Hirose, 22, has spent the last three seasons at Michigan State and has totaled 116 points (33-83-116) in 106 games. This season, Hirose led the nation in points (50), points-per-game (1.47), assists (35), multi-point games (15) and three-point games (9). The 5-foot-10, 160-pound winger was also the Big Ten scoring champion this season, tallying 34 points (10-24-34) in 24 conference games. Hirose became the 15th Spartan to hit the 100-career point mark since 2000, and his 50 points on the year mark the highest point-total for a Spartan since John-Michael Liles recorded 50 points in 2002-03. Hirose, who took the NCAA lead in points and assists on Jan. 4 and carried it throughout the rest of the season, had points in all but eight games for the Spartans and found the scoresheet in 34 of 43 games dating back to the 2017-18 campaign. Hirose was also named one of three finalists for the Big Ten Player of the Year Award, which will be announced next week.
Prior to his collegiate career, Hirose played two seasons (2014-16) with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the British Columbia Hockey League where he totaled 121 points (33-88-121) in 116 games. During the 2015-16 campaign with the Silverbacks, the Calgary, Alberta, native ranked 13th in the BCHL in points (71) and fourth in assists (56), both of which led the team. Hirose also led the Silverbacks in scoring (18-32-50) in his first season with the club (2014-15), en route to being named the team's Rookie of the Year.
Taro Hirose, Left Wing
Born Jun 30 1996 -- Calgary, ALTA
Height 5.10 -- Weight 160
