Takeshi Saito
Takeshi Saitō (Japanese齐藤 毅, Saitō Takeshi, born March 8, 1981 in Hokkaidō, Japan) is a Japanese professional ice hockey player who plays for the Oji Eagles in the Asia League Ice Hockey since 2003.
- 2.1 International
- 3.1 International
Career
Takeshi Saitō played until 2003 Sapporo Polaris, the former team of Yukijirushi Nyūgyō. The first season of the newly formed Asia League Ice Hockey, he moved to the Oji Eagles, the team of the paper manufacturer Ōji Seishi. In so far 204 games, he scored 194 points, making it one of the most successful scorers of the team since joining the alih. In the 2007 /08 season Saito won the championship with his team. In 2010 he was named the best defensive forward of the Asia League Ice Hockey.
Internationally
For Japan Saitō took part in the U20 Junior C World Championships in 2000 and 2001 at junior level. In the senior level, he stood in the squad of his country at the A World Championships in 2003 and 2004 as well as in the B World Championships in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. During the 2009 B- World Cup, he was Group A leading scorer and top scorer. He also appeared for Japan at the Asian Winter Games in 2007 and 2011, where he won the gold or the silver medal with Japan.
Awards and achievements
- 2008 Championship of the Asia League Ice Hockey with the Oji Eagles
- 2010 Best Defensive Forward of the Asia League Ice Hockey
Internationally
- 2007 Gold medal at the Asian Winter Games
- 2009 top scorer of the World Championship Division I, Group A
- 2009 Top scorer in the World Championship Division I, Group A
- 2011 Silver medal at the Asian Winter Games
Career Stats
Internationally
Represented in Japan:
- A World Cup 2003
- A World Cup 2004
- B- World Cup 2005
- B- World Cup 2006
- B World Cup 2008
- B- World Cup 2009
- B- World Cup 2010
( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )