The Cyclones are excited to announce that forward Yushiroh Hirano has been reassigned to Cincinnati from the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League (AHL). Hirano is expected to arrive in Cincinnati Tuesday evening and be available for game six against Fort Wayne in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Hirano, 27, is on a one-year, two-way contract with AHL-Abbotsford, but was recently playing overseas in Estonia, representing Team Japan in the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Hirano netted a hat trick and tallied 10 points across five games, helping guide Japan to winning the Division I Group B tournament, earning his country a promotion to Group A for next season.
The Tomakomai, Japan native briefly played for the 'Clones this season from January 25-February 15, scoring four goals while collecting 14 points in 12 games. He registered at least a point in 10 of 12 contests, of which the Cyclones went 6-3-1. Hirano appeared in 18 AHL games this season, scoring a pair of goals as part of a four-point season. The fourth-year pro has played in over 200 professional games in North America (156 ECHL, 49 AHL), netting 59 goals and 152 points.
