Detroit’s Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) team made a one-of-a-kind signing Monday by adding forward Akane Shiga to its roster for the next two seasons.
Two years ago, Akane Shiga made history by becoming the only Japanese player to play in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). After playing 24 games for Ottawa in 2023-24, she played with Lulea HF in Sweden’s SDHL. In 36 games last season with Lulea, Shiga posted 12 goals and 26 assists for 38 points.
Shiga, 25, also played for the Japanese Olympic team at the 2026 Games in Milan, tying for the team lead with three points in four games. She has played in six World Championships.
The Shiga signing now gives Detroit expansion team 16 players on its roster for the 2026-27 season. On Detroit’s roster, Shiga is reunited with Shiann Darkangelo and Daryl Watts who played with her in Ottawa.
Goalie Yutaka Fukufuji (2006-07, four games for Los Angeles Kings) was the first Japanese-born and trained player to appear in an NHL game.
That was 14 years after defenseman Hiroyuki Miura became the first Japanese national selected in the NHL Entry. The Montreal Canadiens drafted him in the 11th round but he never played for the team.
Today, Jordan Spence is officially the first Japanese citizen to play regularly in the NHL. His mother is Japanese and his father is Canadian. He started his NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings in 2021-22 and played 73 games for the Ottawa Senators last season.