003: Richard Park on Playing in the NHL and Assistant-Coaching the Olympic Team
Release Date: 10/31/2017
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Hockey has taken Richard Park to many places; From California to Canada as a kid and playing on several NHL Teams (HC Ambri-Piotta, Pittsburgh Penguins, Genève-Servette HC, Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, and the Vancouver Canucks). Now, hockey is taking Park back to the country of his birth, South Korea. He’s the assistant head coach/assistant director for the Korean Men’s Team that will compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics in February, working alongside Jim Paek, a former NHL Defenseman who has won two Stanley Cups in the ’90s. In this podcast,...
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info_outlineHockey has taken Richard Park to many places; From California to Canada as a kid and playing on several NHL Teams (HC Ambri-Piotta, Pittsburgh Penguins, Genève-Servette HC, Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, and the Vancouver Canucks). Now, hockey is taking Park back to the country of his birth, South Korea. He’s the assistant head coach/assistant director for the Korean Men’s Team that will compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics in February, working alongside Jim Paek, a former NHL Defenseman who has won two Stanley Cups in the ’90s.
In this podcast, Bill talks to Richard about the 2018 Winter Olympics, the NHL, and coaching in South Korea. They also discuss how Park got introduced to hockey, the lack of exposure of ice hockey in Asian communities, his current roles with the Minnesota Wild and Korean National Team, and where he is headed in the future.
Topics of Discussion:
[1:02] The role Park plays as both assistant head coach and assistant director of the Korean Men’s National Hockey Team
[4:00] The effects of not having NHL players on the Olympic Team
[5:00] Earning the promotion to the top-flight competition in Men’s International Hockey
[6:54] How Park got his job as the assistant head coach/director of the Korean Men’s Team
[8:09] The uphill challenge of getting the Korean Team up to par with the best
[9:30] What was going through Park’s mind after the victory against Ukraine, in Kiev
[10:21] According to the IIHF, there are fewer than 2,700 men and women players in the entire country. Bill and Richard discuss the challenges this provides.
[12:07] The exposure that the Winter Olympics will have on ice hockey for South Korea
[13:02] What it has been like to go back to South Korea
[14:40] Adapting to life in South Korea
[16:56] Bill and Richard Park talk generally about Asians in hockey
[21:16] Exposure of hockey in the Asian community
[23:02] How Park got introduced to hockey
[23:52] Park’s NHL career and what it was like playing against Paul Kariya
[25:25] Park’s current role with the Minnesota Wild
[27:37] What is the end goal? Where Park is headed, hockey-wise
[29:56] Juggling travel, a college degree and his family
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