Chie Chie Yard née Sakuma, also known as Chie Sakuma (佐久間 千絵, Sakuma Chie) is a Japanese-American retired ice hockey player, currently serving as the National Hockey League (NHL) Vice President of Events. She represented Japan in the women's tournament at the 1998 Winter Olympics.[1]
| Chie Sakuma 佐久間 千絵 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
1 March 1972 Houston, Texas, United States | ||
| Height | 158 cm (5 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 63 kg (139 lb; 9 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Played for |
Iwakura Peregrine Brown Bears | ||
| National team |
 Japan | ||
| Playing career | 1990–c. 1998 | ||
Playing career edit
Sakuma was introduced to hockey by her older brother, Teppei, and began playing as a child in her hometown of Houston, Texas. When she was 10, Sakuma's father, Hajime, coached her on a boys' peewee team. Connections Hajime had forged with the ice hockey community in Japan made it possible for the team to travel from Houston to Hokkaido for a tournament.[2]
Sakuma's college ice hockey career was played with the Brown Bears women's ice hockey program under head coach Digit Murphy during 1990 to 1994.[3]
Several months after graduating from Brown University with a degree in anthropology and management, she moved to Japan. While living in Japan, Sakuma worked as a translator for the owner of a major trucking company, who was also president of the Hokkaido hockey association.[4] She played ice hockey with the company-sponsored Iwakura Peregrine of the All-Japan Women's Ice Hockey Championship and with the fledgling Japanese national team. Born and raised in the United States, Sakuma qualified to play for Japan because of her ancestry.[2]
NHL career edit
Following the 1998 Olympics, Sakuma joined the NHL as an intern. As of 2021, she is NHL Vice President of Events, with a portfolio that includes such signature events as Kraft Hockeyville, the NHL Winter Classic, the NHL All-Star Game, NHL Awards, outdoor hockey games, and numerous other projects.[5][6]
Awards edit
In 2018, Sakuma was selected as a part of Sports Business Journal's eighth annual class of Game Changers.[7]
References edit
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Chie Sakuma Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- ^ a b Hersh, Philip (2 February 1998). "Japan Getting (Stick) Handle on Women's Hockey". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ Staffieri, Mark (7 September 2012). "Digit Murphy: Possibly the Final Piece of the Boston Blades Clarkson Cup Puzzle". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "Chie Chie Yard, National Hockey League". Sports Business Journal. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ Thomas, Ian (29 October 2018). "NHL's event guru is fire on ice". American City Business Journals. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "NHL, NHLPA celebrate more than 200 women in hockey community". Pro Hockey News. 8 March 2021. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Game Changers: Class of 2018". Sports Business Journal. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
External links edit
- Chie Sakuma at EliteProspects.com
- Chie Sakuma at Eurohockey.com
- Chie Sakuma at Olympics.com
- Chie Sakuma at Olympedia
