Kawaguchi suited up in 136 games for North Dakota
Former North Dakota forward Jordan Kawaguchi has signed a one-year deal with the Belfast Giants of the EIHL, the team announced Monday.
A product of Abbotsford, B.C., Kawaguchi spent this past season suiting up for the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) where he scored eight goals and added 23 assists for 31 points in 29 regular season games. Kawaguchi also played in nine playoff games with Idaho, collecting eight points.
Prior to signing with the Dallas Stars, Kawaguchi played four seasons with the Fighting Hawks from 2017-2021. In 136 career games, he collected 40 goals and 86 assists for 126 points.
Among his many NCAA achievements, Kawaguchi was named to the NCHC First All-Star team twice, was a Hobey Baker Finalist and won NCHC Forward of the Year in 2019-20.
As Kawaguchi was coming out of college hockey, he was viewed as a solid signing for the Stars. While he was never able to crack the NHL and was demoted to the ECHL in recent years, he has still proven to be a solid playmaker with the puck on his stick. While Belfast will be a new challenge, he should be able to smoothy transition to the game overseas.
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