The National Hockey League makes its third regular-season appearance in Japan this weekend as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators square off for a two-game series Saturday and Sunday at the new Saitama Super Arena in Omiya.
Scott Walker, here with Predators, made some history three years ago when he scored the first-ever official NHL goal outside North America as a member of the Vancouver Canucks.
"As few goals as I get, I was happy to get that one," quipped the rugged right winger at a press conference Thursday in Tokyo.
"It's an honor to be back here and I hope I can do some of the things I wasn't able to do the last time."
There are other players here familiar with Japan, including superstar Jaromir Jagr and five of his Penguin teammates from the Czech Republic's gold medal-winning team at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Ivan Hlinka, who guided that Czech team, will be making his debut as an NHL head coach Saturday behind the Pens' bench.
Pittsburgh also has a superstar owner in Mario Lemieux, who assumed ownership of the team in the summer of 1999 following a Hall of Fame career in which he led the Penguins to Stanley Cups in 1991 and '92.
Nashville is entering its third NHL season as one of the most successful franchises ever, both on the ice (70 points last season) and in attendance (close to 17,000 fans per game in a non-traditional hockey market).