The Korean Kid looks for a hockey home

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This article was published 30/09/2024 (359 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Forget about the road less travelled. Sanghoon Shin is on a rather unprecedented hockey journey, one that has landed the South Korean right here in Winnipeg.

The 31-year-old is attempting to keep his NHL dream alive by trying out for the Manitoba Moose.

“I am lucky to be able to come here,” he told the Free Press on Monday following the start of AHL training camp.

Shin is a fascinating story. He fell in love with hockey as a child growing up in Seoul, watching his older brother player the sport, and clearly has some natural gifts along with a tireless work ethic that has earned him praise at plenty of stops along the way.

“Big reason is my brother. He kept working hard, and I just followed him,” said Shin, flashing a big grin which shows off a missing top tooth courtesy of an old hockey-related injury.

Easier said than done, considering there were only a handful of rinks to skate at growing up.

“I have been very proud of me. And to see younger hockey players in Korea following me a lot,” said Shin. “I’m always talking to them, telling them ‘You can do it, you can do it.”

Shin is quick to credit Jim Paek, the NHL’s first Korea-born player who played 270 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings and Ottawa Senators between 1990-1995, for being a mentor and motivator. Paek’s career also included a nine-game stop in Manitoba with the Moose in 1996-97.

Paek was the head coach of Korean’s national men’s team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, which Shin competed in.

“It was a big experience. I was proud to be an Olympian and play with Olympic players,” said Shin, who stayed close to home, playing in a Korean pro league against teams from China, Japan and, at one point, Russia, until deciding in 2021 to head to North America.

First stop was Atlanta, where he signed with the ECHL Gladiators and had a solid rookie season with 22 points (13 goals, nine assists) in 31 games, including goals in seven straight.

He fell in love with the community, which has a large Korean population, and had an even better sophomore season in 2022-23 with 52 points (30 goals, 22 assists) in 70 games, which was third-highest on the team.

That put him on the radar of the Moose, who have scouts at that level in addition to their new ECHL affiliate in Norfolk.

“He scored 30 goals, so there’s definitely something there,” said Moose head coach Mark Morrison.

Consider him intrigued by Shin, a right-shot forward who stands just 5-foot-8 and weighs 170 pounds.

“Not a traditional path, for sure not. I thought he looked really good out there,” Morrison said after watching him up close for the first time.

“Down the line, you just never know when you’re going to need a depth guy that might be able to put the puck in the net. If you’re going through a drought that’s the kind of guy you’re looking for. He definitely showed some skill on the ice out there.”

Shin returned home last year to play for HL Anyang of the Asia League Ice Hockey, with 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) in 32 games while serving as alternate captain. Now he’s back, having signed for the coming season with the ECHL affiliate in Norfolk.

Thad led to him being extended one of nine professional tryout offers sent out by the Moose. With the Winnipeg Jets still having 36 skaters in camp, including about a dozen who will eventually end up with Manitoba, it’s a way to bolster the early numbers for the AHL club.

“We get a chance to see some guys that the management team hasdone some scouting for,” said Morrison. “It’s good for us to get a look at those guys and see what kind of game they have.”

Shin, who describes his speed and shot as his biggest strengths, is hoping to make the most of the opportunity.

“I have never played AHL. I hope to sign here. I am trying my best at this camp,” he said.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg