Zach Yuen

Zachary Yuen (born March 3, 1993, Chinese: 袁俊杰; pinyin: Yuán Jùnjié) is a Chinese-Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently an unrestricted free agent who most recently played for Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).^[1] Yuen was one of the first players of Chinese descent to be drafted in the NHL Entry Draft.

Zach Yuen
Born	(1993-03-03) March 3, 1993 (age 32) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position	Defence Forward
Shoots	Left
team Former teams	Free agent Toronto Marlies Kunlun Red Star
National team	China
NHL draft	119th overall, 2011 Winnipeg Jets
Playing career	2013–present

Playing career

While playing with the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Yuen became the first defenceman of Chinese descent to be drafted in the NHL Entry Draft after being selected by the Winnipeg Jets in 2011.^[2][3]

After playing two more seasons with the Tri-City Americans, Yuen made his professional debut with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 2013–14 season. He played three games with the Marlies before being assigned to the ECHL.^[4]

Yuen signed a two-year contract with the Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in 2016,^[5] then became the first Chinese player to score for the Red Star during a 1–0 win over the Amur Khabarovsk.^[6]

International play

Yuen was called up to represent the China men's national ice hockey team for the 2022 Winter Olympics on January 28, 2022.^[7]

Personal life

Yuen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. His father immigrated from Hong Kong and his mother was born in Vancouver after his maternal grandparents immigrated from Hong Kong.^[2]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008–09	Tri–City Americans	WHL		4	0	0	0	0		7	1	0	1	2
2009–10	Tri–City Americans	WHL		42	1	3	4	19		22	1	1	2	12
2010–11	Tri–City Americans	WHL		72	8	24	32	65		10	0	3	3	12
2011–12	Tri–City Americans	WHL		66	12	26	38	46		15	1	4	5	18
2012–13	Tri–City Americans	WHL		71	9	34	43	58		5	0	1	1	10
2013–14	Toronto Marlies	AHL		3	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Orlando Solar Bears	ECHL		48	1	11	12	30		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Wheeling Nailers	ECHL		27	3	4	7	16		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Gwinnett Gladiators	ECHL		35	6	10	16	38		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Atlanta Gladiators	ECHL		17	1	7	8	10		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Idaho Steelheads	ECHL		51	3	17	20	48		7	0	1	1	6
2016–17	Kunlun Red Star	KHL		60	3	8	11	42		5	1	0	1	4
2017–18	Kunlun Red Star	KHL		21	2	1	3	18		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	KRS Heilongjiang	VHL		8	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Kunlun Red Star	KHL		35	1	1	2	41		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	KRS BSU Beijing	VHL		13	0	4	4	8		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Kunlun Red Star	KHL		29	0	2	2	18		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Kunlun Red Star	KHL		21	0	1	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
KHL totals				166	6	13	19	123		5	1	0	1	4

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2010	Canada Pacific	U17	5th		5	0	1	1	6
2022	China	OG	12th		4	0	0	0	0
2022	China	WC D2A	27th		4	0	3	3	29
Junior totals					5	0	1	1	6
Senior totals					8	0	3	3	29