Yokohama Grits | |
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City | Yokohama, Kanagawa |
League | Asia League Ice Hockey |
Founded | 2 May 2019[1] |
Home arena | Kosé Shin-Yokohama Skate Center |
Colours | Blue, black, white |
Owner(s) | Akihito Usui |
Head coach | Jeff Flanagan |
Website |
grits-sport |
The Yokohama Grits ( Japanese: 横浜グリッツ, romanized: Yokohama gurittsu) are a professional ice hockey team based in Yokohama, Japan. They are a members of Asia League Ice Hockey and play their home games at the Kosé Shin-Yokohama Skate Center.
The Yokohama Grits were founded on 2 May 2019 by Grits Sports Innovators Corporation, an organisation led by Akihito Usui. [2] The Grits are the first ice hockey team based in the Greater Tokyo Area since the Seibu Prince Rabbits folded in 2009. [1] On 2 June 2020 the team was announced as the eighth member of Asia League Ice Hockey, [3] with former NHL player Mike Kennedy serving as the head coach. [1] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia, the league cancelled its planned 2020–21 season, and a three-country Asia League tournament was scheduled instead. [4] In October of the same year, the Grits took part in the Asia League Japan Cup. [5]