Meet Hiroki Gojsic
SCOUTING REPORT
Hiroki Gojsic Height: 6’4 Weight: 190 pounds Position: Forward Hand: Right Home: Langley Age: 16
COACHING REPORT
“Hiroki has all the tools to be a force in the BCHL, and beyond. He has size, speed, and skill; and combines these with a willingness to play in the ‘dirty’ areas,” Vees’ head coach Fred Harbinson said. “His development with us is going to be a process, as we believe he will be an elite level player if he is patient and trusts our program to bring him up step by step and is determined to make an impact every shift.”
PLAYER BACKGROUND
Gojsic’s family dynamic is a great blend of a supportive father and determined mother.
“My mom came to Canada from Japan in 2003. She had been a gymnast and physical education teacher there. My Dad grew up in Thunder Bay and eventually moved out to Vancouver; they met through a mutual friend and enjoyed after-work walks in Stanley Park together.
“My mother is the tough one; if I have a bad game, she will let me hear about it. My Dad takes the other road with me; he doesn’t care if I have a good game or bad game; he’s always supportive.
“Neither of my parents really played hockey, but they got me into skating when I was four, and I remember really enjoying it.
That love of skating ‘dominoed’ into hockey, and that’s when I got really interested in playing the game. My two younger brothers also play, and honestly, they’ve become very good players.
“My favourite NHL hockey team is definitely the Canucks — hey, they haven’t been very successful, but I think you gotta support the hometown team. My favourite player is Nathan Mackinnon because he is fun to watch, with his incredible skating ability and determination — I think he is a terrific player for myself to try to model.”
HOCKEY HIGHLIGHTS
Gojsic last season attended the highly regarded, academic St. Georges School in Vancouver,
“Last season I played with St George’s U18 and my favourite moment was the bus ride after we won three in a row in Shawnigan — we were a close group of guys that worked hard on and off the ice. Our playing style was very determined, because as a team, we weren’t the most skilled group. We responded very well to the demanding but caring approach of our coach, Tyler Kuntz.
“My favourite hockey moment so far in my life is probably winning the 2021 WHL cup (a tournament bringing together the top U16 players representing the four western provinces). Our team went undefeated, and most of the players on the team had known each other since we were really young, which made our success even sweeter. The reason we went undefeated is probably because of our depth, and that everyone put the team first, instead of personal stats.
BEING A VEE
Hiroki, like all Vees players, had many other junior hockey options to choose from, including staying close to home, but decided that Peach City was the place for him.
“The most appealing thing for me is all the resources that the Vees offer. The coaching staff is second to none, and I felt like this is a place where I can succeed. I think the fans in Penticton will appreciate that I’m responsible on both ends of the ice, and that I’m a bigbodied presence that can skate and make plays. I think that there’s still a lot of room for personal improvement, as I’m filling out my frame and will work hard every day to get better.”