| Nippon Paper Cranes | |
|---|---|
) | |
| City | Kushiro, Hokkaidō |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Operated | 1949–2019 |
| Folded | 2019 |
| Home arena | Kushiro Ice Arena |
| Colours | |
| Owner(s) | Nippon Paper Group |
The Nippon Paper Cranes (日本製紙クレインズ, Nippon Seishi Kureinzu) were an Asia League Ice Hockey team based in Kushiro City in Hokkaidō, Japan.
History
The club was founded as Jūjō Paper Kushiro Ice Hockey Club in 1949. They adopted the new name Nippon Paper Cranes in 1993 when Jūjō Paper and Sanyō Kokusaku Pulp merged to form Nippon Paper.
They won the inaugural Asia League Ice Hockey title in the 2003–04 season, and have won it four times overall. They also have won the All Japan Ice hockey Championship seven times. After the 2018–19 season, the team was dissolved due to financial difficulties, and was replaced by the East Hokkaido Cranes.[1]
Honours
- Asia League:
- Winners (4): 2003–04, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2013–14
- All Japan Championship:
- Winners (7): 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
Season-by-season record
Asia League
| Season | GP | W | W(OT) | W(GWS)* | T | L(GWS)* | L(OT) | L | GF | GA | PTS | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 16 | 13 | 0 | — | 0 | — | 0 | 3 | 80 | 49 | 39 | 1st/5 | Won League |
| 2004–05 | 42 | 31 | 0 | — | 5 | — | 0 | 6 | 206 | 85 | 98 | 1st/8 | Lost in finals |
| 2005–06 | 38 | 30 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 0 | 5 | 240 | 66 | 95 | 1st/9 | Lost in finals |
| 2006–07 | 34 | 27 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 198 | 79 | 86 | 1st/8 | Won championship |
| 2007–08 | 30 | 15 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 1 | 11 | 97 | 85 | 50 | 4th/7 | Lost in finals |
| 2008–09 | 36 | 18 | 3 | 2 | — | 2 | 3 | 8 | 120 | 95 | 69 | 4th/7 | Won championship |
| 2009–10 | 36 | 18 | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 0 | 10 | 128 | 101 | 68 | 3rd/7 | Lost in finals |
| 2010–11 | 36 | 21 | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | 7 | 141 | 95 | 74 | 2nd/7 | Lost in semi-finals |
| 2011–12 | 36 | 16 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | 14 | 128 | 110 | 58 | 4th/7 | Lost in semi-finals |
| 2012–13 | 42 | 17 | 4 | 6 | — | 3 | 3 | 9 | 176 | 130 | 77 | 3rd/7 | Lost in semi-finals |
| Totals | 346 | 205 | 17 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 76 | 1514 | 895 | — | — | 3 Championships |
*prior to the 2008–2009 season, there were no shoot-outs and games ended in a tie
Past import players
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Joel Dyck 2003–2009, D- Chris Lindberg 2004–05, LW
- Derek Plante 2005–07, D
- Jamie McLennan 2007–08, G
- Tyson Nash 2007–08, LW
Kelly Fairchild 2008–09, C- Brad Tiley 2008–09, D
- Pierre-Olivier Beaulieu 2009–10, D
- Ash Goldie 2010–11, FW
- Mike Madill 2010–11, D
- Ray DiLauro 2011, D
- Tyler Mosienko 2011–12, C
- John Hecimovic 2011–12, RW
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References
- ^ "'East Hokkaido Cranes' to succeed Nippon Paper franchise". The Japan Times. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.