Signal for Generational Shift in Ice Hockey... Kim Sang-yup and Lee Seung-jae Shine Domestically and Abroad

South Korean ice hockey is undergoing a generational shift amid the retirement of key players from the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Against this backdrop, "post-PyeongChang generation" forward Kim Sang-yup (22, HL Anyang) and defenseman Lee Seung-jae (23, Bloomington Bison) are making strong impressions as the leading figures of this transition.

Kim Sang-yup, who joined HL Anyang last June after spending three years playing overseas in the North American junior league (NAHL) and the Alps Hockey League (a joint league of Italy, Austria, and Croatia), has emerged as a key forward this season.

As of today (November 2), he has played in 10 regular-league games of the 2026-2027 Asia League Ice Hockey, scoring 9 goals to sit alone at the top of the scoring ladder.

Standing 183 cm tall and weighing 85 kg, Kim has been leading the offense by attempting a team-high 52 shots on goal over 10 matches.

This is 12 more than Ahn Jin-hui, who is second on the team in shots on goal with 40.

Based on his mid-to-long-range shooting and one-timer abilities, he made his senior national team debut at the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship Division I Group A tournament and has since solidified his standing.

HL Anyang coach Kim Ki-sung evaluated, "Kim Sang-yup has a strong scoring instinct and excellent puck possession and recovery skills. With consistent effort, he is a player who will develop even further."

In the defensive line, which has been a chronic weakness for South Korean ice hockey, Lee Seung-jae—who plays in the ECHL, a minor league of North American professional ice hockey—is being cited as a new alternative for the national team.

Having graduated from Yonsei University and joined Bloomington last year, he successfully settled into the team by recording 3 goals and 5 assists in 45 regular-season games.

This season, he has played in 5 games and notched 3 assists, contributing to his team's strong early momentum with 4 wins and 1 overtime loss.

Notably, in a game against the Indy Fuel on October 31, he played on the top defensive pairing and recorded 2 assists, marking his first multi-point game since moving to the United States.

Standing 185 cm tall and weighing 80 kg, Lee is a late bloomer who began his serious playing career in his third year of middle school, yet he joined the senior national team in 2023 through rigorous training.

Yonsei University head coach Lee Jong-soo, who coached him during his college years, predicted, "He is a player who overcame a short career span through sheer effort alone. He has more than enough ability to challenge himself in the AHL, a higher league."

(Photo courtesy of HL Anyang, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.