McGill grad Yamamoto signs pact to play pro hockey in Scotland - McGill University Athletics (2024)

Derah Onuorah

Men's Hockey 5/23/2024 5:33:00 PM Earl Zukerman

MONTREAL --Keanu Yamamoto, a McGill University graduate, has signed a one-year contract to play in Scotland. He will be suiting up for the Dundee Stars of the Elite Ice Hockey League, the top professional division in the United Kingdom. The 27-year-old native of Spokane, Wash., spent the last two seasons in South Dakota, skating for the ECHL's Rapid City Rush, an affiliate of the NHL's Calgary Flames, where he posted a 37-56-93 record in 143 regular season contests.

One of 99 McGillians to toil at the pro level worldwide (see complete list below), he will be the 17th to skate in the UK and just the second to suit up for a squad in Scotland. Previously, former teammateGuillaume Gauthier(BA '20) skated for the Glasgow Clan in 2021-22. Another ex-McGill teammate currently in the EIHL, isSamuel Tremblay(B.Ed '22), who just finished his third season with the Manchester Storm.

Yamamoto, a speedy, 5-foot-6, 170-poundforward, graduated in 2022 with an arts degree, majoring in economics. During his four seasons in the university ranks, he scored a career total of 46 goals and 123 points in 142 contests overall, with 122 penalty minutes. In OUA regular season play, he registered 29 goals and 82 points in 98 games. In the post-season, he tallied 21 points in 21 games, including nine goals.

Yamamoto was also selected to skate for a Quebec university all-star team in a preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens rookie squad, earning one assist in a 5-3 loss on Sept. 21, 2021. His younger brother isKailer Yamamoto, who just completed his seventh NHL season, is playing for the Seattle Kraken.

McGILL HOCKEY ALUMNI WHO PLAYED PRO IN THE UNITED KINGDOM (17)

PLAYER / McGILL DEGREE / UK TEAM
Dr. Bob Brodrick (MDCM '47): Streatham
David Ducharme (BA '85): Nottingham Panthers & Lee Valley Lions
Mark Reade (B.Com '86): Durham Wasps
Mike Babco*ck (B.Ed '86): Whitley Bay Warriors
Bryan Larkin (B.Com '91): Swindon Wildcats
Paul Grech (BA '91): Swindon Wildcats
Guillaume Doucet (B.Ed '11): Hull & Nottingham & Cardiff & Milton Keynes
Yan Turcotte (BA '10): Hull Stingrays
Maxime Langelier-Parent (BA '12): Nottingham Panthers
Francis Verreault-Paul (B.Ed. '12): Milton Keynes Lightning
Liam Heelis (M.Ed. '17): Fife Flyers
Nathanael Halbert (B.Ed. '19): Coventry Blaze
Dominic Talbot-Tassi (B.Eng '20): Nottingham Panthers
Guillaume Gauthier(BA '20): Glasgow Clan
Ryan Penny (B.Ed. '21): Coventry Blaze & Cardiff Devils
Samuel Tremblay (B.Sc., M.Sc'22): Manchester Storm
Keanu Yamamoto (BA '22): Dundee Stars

McGill Hockey Alumni Playing in Pro Hockey (99)

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-983-7012 (Tel.)
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca