Seibu Prince Rabbits
Encyclopedia
The were an Asia League Ice Hockey
team based in Nishitōkyō City in Tokyo
, Japan
that was folded in 2009. The Rabbits played at the DyDo Drinco Ice Arena
from 2006-07 to 2008-09. In December 2008, Prince Hotels
, the team's owner, announced that the team would be folded at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season.
The club was founded as the Kokudo Keikaku Ice Hockey Club in Karuizawa, Nagano
in 1972. They won the Japan Ice Hockey League
and All Japan Ice Hockey Championship in 1974. Since then, they have won the League 13 times and the All Japan Championship 11 times. They moved to Shinagawa, Tokyo
in 1984, then to Yokohama, Kanagawa in 1991. They changed their name to the Kokudo Ice Hockey Club according to the change of their parent company's name. They merged with the Seibu Railways Ice Hockey Club in 2003 and moved to the Suntory Higashi-fushimi Ice Arena (renamed to DyDo Drinco Ice Arena in 2006 when the naming rights
contract went to DyDo Drico) in Nishitokyo, Tokyo where Seibu had been based. Their parent company Kokudo ceased to exist in 2006 after a merger with Prince Hotels
, Inc. They adopted the new name Seibu Prince Rabbits in 2006. The club also had a women's team called the Seibu Princess Rabbits.
On December 19, 2008, Prince Hotels & Resorts officially announced its intention to fold the team at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season, citing funding difficulties in a harsh economic climate.
Prince Hotels & Resorts negotiated with over twenty companies to find a new owner, however, did not succeed due to the economic situation in Japan, and due to the declining popularity of ice hockey itself. Prince Hotels & Resorts announced the dis-banding of the team as of March 31, 2009.
1972-1977, D Mel Wakabayashi
1972-1978, F Juhani Tamminen
1979-1980, 1982-1984, F John Tucker 1997-2000, C Chris Bright
2003-05, RW Dan Daikawa 2003-04, D Joel Prpic
2003-2009, D (Former Bruins
/Avalanche
) Chris Yule 2003-08, F Richard Rochefort
2007-2009, C
Asia League Ice Hockey
Asia League Ice Hockey is an association which operates a professional ice hockey league based in East Asia, with seven teams from Japan, China, and South Korea. The league is headquartered in Japan...
team based in Nishitōkyō City in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
that was folded in 2009. The Rabbits played at the DyDo Drinco Ice Arena
DyDo Drinco Ice Arena
The DyDo Drinco Ice Arena is an indoor sporting arena located in Nishitōkyō, Tokyo, Japan. The arena opened in 1984. It has a capacity of 3,500 people...
from 2006-07 to 2008-09. In December 2008, Prince Hotels
Prince Hotels
The is the name of a hotel chain company headquartered in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan. It is a subsidiary of Seibu Holdings, Inc. Together with Seibu Railway, Prince Hotels is the core company of Seibu Group.-Overview:...
, the team's owner, announced that the team would be folded at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season.
History
Karuizawa, Nagano
is a town located in Kitasaku District, Nagano, Japan.As of January 1, 2008, the town has an estimated population of 17,833 and has a total area of ....
in 1972. They won the Japan Ice Hockey League
Japan Ice Hockey League
The Japan Ice Hockey League was an annual ice hockey league that began in 1966 and ended in 2004 when it was replaced by Asia League Ice Hockey...
and All Japan Ice Hockey Championship in 1974. Since then, they have won the League 13 times and the All Japan Championship 11 times. They moved to Shinagawa, Tokyo
Shinagawa, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it is called Shinagawa City. The ward is home to nine embassies.As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population of 344,461 and a density of 15,740 persons per km². The total area is 22.72 km²....
in 1984, then to Yokohama, Kanagawa in 1991. They changed their name to the Kokudo Ice Hockey Club according to the change of their parent company's name. They merged with the Seibu Railways Ice Hockey Club in 2003 and moved to the Suntory Higashi-fushimi Ice Arena (renamed to DyDo Drinco Ice Arena in 2006 when the naming rights
Naming rights
In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...
contract went to DyDo Drico) in Nishitokyo, Tokyo where Seibu had been based. Their parent company Kokudo ceased to exist in 2006 after a merger with Prince Hotels
Prince Hotels
The is the name of a hotel chain company headquartered in Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan. It is a subsidiary of Seibu Holdings, Inc. Together with Seibu Railway, Prince Hotels is the core company of Seibu Group.-Overview:...
, Inc. They adopted the new name Seibu Prince Rabbits in 2006. The club also had a women's team called the Seibu Princess Rabbits.
On December 19, 2008, Prince Hotels & Resorts officially announced its intention to fold the team at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season, citing funding difficulties in a harsh economic climate.
Prince Hotels & Resorts negotiated with over twenty companies to find a new owner, however, did not succeed due to the economic situation in Japan, and due to the declining popularity of ice hockey itself. Prince Hotels & Resorts announced the dis-banding of the team as of March 31, 2009.
Honours
- Asia LeagueAsia League Ice HockeyAsia League Ice Hockey is an association which operates a professional ice hockey league based in East Asia, with seven teams from Japan, China, and South Korea. The league is headquartered in Japan...
:- Winners (2): 2004-05, 2005–06
- Japan LeagueJapan Ice Hockey LeagueThe Japan Ice Hockey League was an annual ice hockey league that began in 1966 and ended in 2004 when it was replaced by Asia League Ice Hockey...
:- Winners (13): 1974-75, 1977–78, 1985–86, 1988–89, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04
- All Japan Championship:
- Winners (11): 1975, 1982, 1988, 1990, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009
Notable players
- Hiroyuki MiuraHiroyuki MiuraHiroyuki Miura is an ice hockey defenceman. He currently is an unrestricted free agent....
, drafted by the Montreal CanadiensMontreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in 19921992 NHL Entry DraftThe 1992 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 20 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. A total of 264 players were drafted.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:...
, the first ever Japanese drafted into the NHL. - Yutaka FukufujiYutaka Fukufujiis a Japanese ice hockey player currently with the Nikko Ice Bucks of the Asia League Ice Hockey. Fukufuji was the first Japanese player to appear in a National Hockey League game. He is the first Japanese citizen to be drafted as a goaltender in the NHL and second Japanese national to be...
, who was drafted by the National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's Los Angeles KingsLos Angeles KingsThe Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and became the first Japanese-born player to appear in an NHL game - Juhani TamminenJuhani TamminenJuhani Tamminen is a Finnish retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga and World Hockey Association. He played for TPS, HJK, HIFK, Cleveland Crusaders, and Phoenix Roadrunners...
, Finnish Ice Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and subsequently one of the most controversial ice hockey coaches in Finland.
Import players
Terry O'MalleyTerry O'Malley
Terrence M. O'Malley is a retired ice hockey player. He represented Canada at three Winter Olympics, winning one bronze medal. He was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 1998....
1972-1977, D Mel Wakabayashi
Mel Wakabayashi
Hitoshi "Mel" Wakabayashi is a former All-American ice hockey player, a right-handed center, who played for the 1964 NCAA champion Michigan Wolverines hockey team. He was also named Player of the Year in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in 1966...
1972-1978, F Juhani Tamminen
Juhani Tamminen
Juhani Tamminen is a Finnish retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga and World Hockey Association. He played for TPS, HJK, HIFK, Cleveland Crusaders, and Phoenix Roadrunners...
1979-1980, 1982-1984, F John Tucker 1997-2000, C Chris Bright
Chris Bright
Chris Bright is a Canadian-born retired professional ice hockey player. He was selected by the Hartford Whalers in the 11th round of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.-International career:...
2003-05, RW Dan Daikawa 2003-04, D Joel Prpic
Joel Prpic
Joel Melvin Prpic is a Canadian professional ice hockey player of Croatian ancestry who is currently playing with Croatian team, KHL Medveščak Zagreb, in the Austrian Hockey League.- Playing career :...
2003-2009, D (Former Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
/Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
) Chris Yule 2003-08, F Richard Rochefort
Richard Rochefort
Richard Rochefort is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for Nikkō Ice Bucks of the Asia League Ice Hockey . He was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the 7th round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.Rochefort was a nominee for the 2001–02 Fred T...
2007-2009, C