Head Coach Yoshifumi Fujisawa to Step Down After the 2025-2026 Season

H.C. Tochigi Nikko Icebucks announces that head coach Yoshifumi Fujisawa will step down at the end of the 2025-2026 season.
Coach Fujisawa has supported the team for 4 seasons as an assistant coach and 5 seasons as a head coach, making a significant contribution to the club's development over many years. Since his time as an assistant coach, he has consistently dedicated himself to strengthening the team, greatly contributing to player development and building the team's foundation. After becoming head coach, in addition to improving tactics, he enhanced the team's sense of unity and competitiveness, greatly contributing to the club's improved athletic performance.
Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, under extremely severe conditions and with a limited structure, he continued to lead the team and supported the club throughout the seasons. His dedicated attitude had a major impact not only on the players and staff but on the entire club. Furthermore, he embodied the club's philosophy for many years and devoted himself to building a team loved by the local community and fans.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude for his tremendous efforts and achievements thus far, and we wish him continued success in the future.
To show our respect for Coach Fujisawa's achievements, the club is planning to hold a departure ceremony. Details will be announced once decided.
Information regarding his successor will be announced as soon as it is decided.

■ Yoshifumi FUJISAWA
■ Date of Birth: February 12, 1976
■ Hometown: Kushiro City, Hokkaido
■ Playing Career: Kushiro Midorigaoka High School -> Seibu Railway Ice Hockey Club -> Calgary Canucks (AJHL) -> Alaska Gold Kings (WCHL, currently ECHL) -> Furukawa Electric Ice Hockey Club -> Nikko Icebucks
■ Major Past Achievements: Asia Oceania Jr. National Team (2 times), World Jr. Championship National Team (3 times)
■ Coaching Career:
2010 U16 Men's Development Coach
2011 Women's National Team Assistant Coach / U18 Women's National Team Head Coach
2012-2014 Women's National Team Assistant Coach / U18 Women's National Team Head Coach
2015-2016 Women's National Team Head Coach / U18 Women's National Team Head Coach
2017-2020 H.C. Tochigi Nikko Icebucks Assistant Coach
2021-2026 H.C. Tochigi Nikko Icebucks Head Coach

Comment from Coach Fujisawa:
I will be stepping down as head coach at the end of this season after serving for 5 years. Including my time as an assistant coach, I have spent 9 long seasons here. I was able to spend 9 happy years as a hockey person, receiving support and encouragement from the local community, Bucks fans, partners, and many others. I would like to express my gratitude here.
This season, marking the 100th anniversary of the club's founding, we started with determination, receiving many expectations from everyone. I think the players expected it the most. As the one watching their daily practices, efforts, and attitudes closest, I understood their feelings for this season very well. It is entirely my responsibility as head coach that I could not connect the players' efforts to results.
I had a truly wonderful experience during these 9 years. The learnings, realizations, and the seasons that come naturally every year are by no means natural. The "Kirifuri Theater" made possible by the setup and volunteer staff, the fans who created the best atmosphere with the No. 1 passion in Asia, and the "Yocchi call" before the game inspired me and saved me countless times. And above all, the many players who always looked forward and fought together with me in any situation.
Although small in number, the team staff who always sweat and supported us with a team-first mindset...