Claimed: Daisuke Kanou [1/2]

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

Moving on to our 2nd match up which will include Daisuke Kanou and someone who will be reveled either by the end of this week or next, but a little story on how HC Davos Dynamo acquired the 1st overall pick. The Dynamo traded RW Leander Kaelin along with Season 17 Toronto 2nd Round Pick (D Jacob Elwood) and a Season 18 Davos 2nd Round Pick (G Aiden Shaw) for Season 18 Helsinki 1st Round Pick (G Daisuke Kanou) and a Season 17 Helsinki 3rd Round Pick (G Rob Falko). So the Titans ended up traded draft picks to not one but two of the greatest goaltenders in VHL history in two separate trades because that DAV 2nd Rounder was traded by Helsinki to New York who ended up trading that pick to Toronto. So yea, that Aiden Shaw pick was passed around quite a bit. Now onto the career of one Daisuke Kanou.

 

Awards

Season 18 VHL All-Star
Season 19 Terance Fong Trophy Winner with HC Davos Dynamo as European Champions
Season 19 VHL All-Star
Season 20 Continental Cup Winner with HC Davos Dynamo as VHL Champions
Season 20 Victory Cup Winner with HC Davos Dynamo as VHL Regular Season Champions
Season 20 Terence Fong Trophy Winner with HC Davos Dynamo as European Champions
Season 20 Daisuke Kanou Trophy Winner as Playoff MVP
Season 20 VHL All-Star
Season 21 Terence Fong Trophy Winner with HC Davos Dynamo as European Champions
Season 21 Scotty Campbell Trophy Winner as Regular Season MVP
Season 21 Brett Slobodzian Trophy Winner as MVP voted on by the Players
Season 21 VHL All-Star
Season 22 VHL All-Star
Season 23 Victory Cup Winner with HC Davos Dynamo as VHL Regular Season Champions
Season 23 VHL All-Star
Season 24 Continental Cup Winner with HC Davos Dynamo as VHL Champions
Season 24 Terence Fong Trophy Winner with HC Davos Dynamo as European Champions
Season 24 Daisuke Kanou Trophy Winner as Playoff MVP
Season 24 Aiden Shaw Trophy Winner as Top Goaltender
Season 24 VHL All-Star
Season 25 Continental Cup Winner with HC Davos Dynamo as VHL Champions
Season 25 Victory Cup Winner with HC Davos Dynamo as VHL Regular Season Champions
Season 25 Terence Fong Trophy Winner with HC Davos Dynamo as European Champions
Season 25 Daisuke Kanou Trophy Winner as Playoff MVP
Season 25 VHL All-Star

 

Season 18: HC Davos Dynamo

Season 18 Regular Season
S18 - VHL - DAV - 65 GP | 31 W | 26 L | 6 OTL | 0.907 SV% | 3.01 G.A.A | 1 SO | 7 A

Season 18 Playoffs
S18 - VHL - DAV - N/A

Season 18 dawned a new era in the VHL, the rise of the great goalies. We had Kanou in Davos, Shaw in Toronto, Kjeldsen in Helsinki and Zach Voss in Madrid. We also had Joey Clarence in Seattle but was in the minors. Kanou was starting in his first season in Davos in Season 18, he had a record of 31-26-6 with a 0.907 save percentage and a 3.01 G.A.A with 1 shutout and 7 assists. Very nice stats for a rookie but it was not good enough to lead the Dynamo into the playoffs. The Dynamo missed the playoffs by 7 points after finished behind the Riga Reign for the last spot in the European Conference. Kanou was named an All-Star for his efforts.

 

Season 19: HC Davos Dynamo

Season 19 Regular Season
S19 - VHL - DAV - 64 GP | 46 W | 11 L | 7 OTL | 0.916 SV% | 2.34 G.A.A | 1 SO | 2 A

Season 19 Playoffs
S19 - VHL - DAV - 10 GP | 4 W | 6 L | 0 OTL | 0.927 SV% | 2.51 G.A.A | 0 SO | 0 A

Coming into Kanou's second season, he was destined for great things as the Dynamo team he played on grew one season older and got better. So it didn't come much to anyone's surprise when Kanou put up a 46-11-7 record with a 0.916 save percentage and a 2.34 G.A.A with 1 shutout and 2 assists. The Dynamo went from 3rd place to 1st place in the European Conference with 106 points which was 6 points ahead of 2nd place Riga. 

 

Kanou and the Dynamo had a very tough Round 1 opponent in Riga and it went 6 games with the Dynamo taking a 2-0 series lead before Riga battled back to take the next 2 to even it before Davos won the last two to move onto the finals. In the finals, the Dynamo would play the Calgary Wranglers who were last seasons champions. The Dynamo would up getting swept in 4 games. To be fair they were all 1 goal games except a 4-2 victory in Game 4. Kanou went 4-6-0 with a 0.927 save percentage and a 2.51 G.A.A. Pretty great season for Kanou as he was named an all-star again.

 

Season 20: HC Davos Dynamo

Season 20 Regular Season
S20 - VHL - DAV - 64 GP | 50 W | 10 L | 3 OTL | 0.922 SV% | 2.12 G.A.A | 10 SO | 9 A

Season 20 Playoffs
S20 - VHL - DAV - 14 GP | 8 W | 6 L | 0 OTL | 0.937 SV% | 1.91 G.A.A | 2 SO | 1 A

Coming into his third season, Kanou broke out in a big way this season reaching the 50 win mark in the VHL with a record of 50-10-3. Kanou also put up a 0.922 save percentage, a 2.12 G.A.A and broke the 10 shutout mark with 9 assists. It was a very good season for Kanou. The Dynamo finished 1st in the European Conference again with 116 points but this was only 3 points ahead of the 2nd place Riga Reign who had 113. The Dynamo were Victory Cup winners as Regular Season Winners for the first time since Season 13.

 

For the second season in a row, the Dynamo and Reign went to war in the first round. After 7 games, the Dynamo would advance to their 2nd straight final, this time against the Toronto Legion. After another 7 games, the Dynamo wound up on top winning the Continental Cup bringing it to Switzerland for the first time since Season 13 and the first time back in Europe for the first time since Season 16 when Riga won. Kanou had a record of 8-6-0 with a 0.937 save percentage and a 1.91 G.A.A with 2 shutouts and 1 assist. Kanou was named an all-star and walked away with the then Gordon Howe Trophy before it was renamed the Daisuke Kanou Trophy in Season 29.

 

Season 21: HC Davos Dynamo

Season 21 Regular Season
S21 - VHL - DAV - 65 GP | 39 W | 22 L | 4 OTL | 0.926 SV% | 2.61 G.A.A | 3 SO | 1 A

Season 21 Playoffs
S21 - VHL - DAV - 11 GP | 5 W | 4 L | 2 OTL | 0.914 SV% | 2.59 G.A.A | 1 SO | 0 A

The Dynamo fell off their perch after two seasons as the top seed falling to 2nd with 86 points which was actually tied with Helsinki but Davos had one more regular season win which meant they made the final playoff spot. Kanou had a down year record wise with a 39-22-4 season but his save percentage of 0.926 and G.A.A of 2.61 were great considering the record. Kanou also had 3 shutouts and 1 assist.

 

For the 3rd season in a row the Dynamo and Reign went to battle in the first round. After 6 games, the Dynamo were the surprise winners. The Dynamo moved on to face the Toronto Legion in the finals in another rematch from last season. This time Aiden Shaw led the Legion to a victory in 5 games. Kanou had a record of 5-4-2 with a 0.914 save percentage and a 2.59 G.A.A with 1 shutout. Kanou walked away from this season with a then Wayne Gretzky Trophy (now Scotty Campbell) for Regular Season MVP and Brett Slobodzian Trophy for MVP voted on by the players. 

 

Season 22: HC Davos Dynamo

Season 22 Regular Season
S22 - VHL - DAV - 65 GP | 43 W | 13 L | 8 OTL | 0.922 SV% | 2.17 G.A.A | 7 SO | 6 A

Season 22 Playoffs
S22 - VHL - DAV - 7 GP | 3 W | 3 L | 1 OTL | 0.906 SV% | 3.50 G.A.A | 0 SO | 1 A

Davos and Kanou bounced back in a big way in Season 22 when Davos tied for 1st with Helsinki with 99 points each. However, the Titans had one more regular season win so they claimed home ice advantage in the playoffs. Kanou had a record of 43-13-8 with a 0.922 save percentage and a 2.17 G.A.A with 7 shutouts and 6 assists. 

 

For the first time in 3 seasons, the Dynamo would play someone who isn't the Reign in the first round of the playoffs. After 7 hard games, the Dynamo fell to the Titans in a thriller. Kanou had a record of 3-3-1 with a 0.906 save percentage and a 3.50 G.A.A with 1 assist. Not a masterful performance but they almost made it through to the finals for a third straight year. 

 

Season 23: HC Davos Dynamo

Season 23 Regular Season
S23 - VHL - DAV - 64 GP | 48 W | 10 L | 6 OTL | 0.926 SV% | 1.89 G.A.A | 8 SO | 5 A

Season 23 Playoffs
S23 - VHL - DAV - 6 GP | 2 W | 3 L | 1 OTL | 0.905 SV% | 2.80 G.A.A | 0 SO | 1 A

After two years of not being the number 1 seed, the Dynamo were back and better than ever. They came first in the entire VHL winning the Victory Cup as Regular Season winners for the first time since Season 20. Kanou had a record of 48-10-6 with a 0.926 save percentage and a 1.89 G.A.A with 8 shutouts and 5 assists. Davos finished 4 points up on the 2nd place Titans for 1st in the European Conference and the entire VHL.

 

For the second year in a row the fans were greeted with a great opening round match-up between the Dynamo and the Titans. This time in 6 games, the Dynamo fell to the Titans. Kanou had a record of 2-3-1 with a 0.905 save percentage and a 2.80 G.A.A with 1 assist.

 

Season 24: HC Davos Dynamo

Season 24 Regular Season
S24 - VHL - DAV - 62 GP | 51 W | 10 L | 1 OTL | 0.928 SV% | 1.73 G.A.A | 11 SO | 4 A

Season 24 Playoffs
S24 - VHL - DAV - 11 GP | 8 W | 1 L | 2 OTL | 0.962 SV% | 0.98 G.A.A | 3 SO | 0 A

Coming into Season 24, Kanou had his best season yet with a record of 51-10-1 and a 0.928 save percentage and a 1.73 G.A.A with an amazing 11 shutouts and 4 assists. This however, was not good enough for another Victory Cup as the Legion were Victory Cup winners. The Dynamo finished 9 points up on 2nd place Helsinki.

 

This of course meant a 3rd straight 1st round matchup with the Titans. After fallign in 7 and 6 games the Dynamo made short work of the Titans in just 5 games. We have to go all the way back to Season 21 for the last time Toronto and Davos played in the finals. So far in the Kanou/Shaw era, these teams are 1-1 in finals matchups. So after 6 games, Davos won and Kanou played a masterful series. His record was 8-1-2 with a 0.962 save percentage and a 0.98 G.A.A with 3 shutouts. Kanou walked away with another Gordon Howe Trophy (Daisuke Kanou), Vladislav Tretiak Trophy (Aiden Shaw) as leagues top goalie and a 2nd Continental Cup win. It was a great year for Kanou.

 

Season 25: HC Davos Dynamo

Season 25 Regular Season
S25 - VHL - DAV - 64 GP | 42 W | 16 L | 5 OTL | 0.913 SV% | 2.17 G.A.A | 7 SO | 8 A

Season 25 Playoffs
S25 - VHL - DAV - 11 GP | 8 W | 3 L | 0 OTL | 0.937 SV% | 1.73 G.A.A | 1 SO | 1 A

Coming into his final season, Kanou wanted to go out with a bang. He went 42-16-5 with a 0.913 save percentage and a 2.17 G.A.A with 7 shutouts and 8 assists. The Dynamo won the Victory Cup again finishing 1 point ahead of the Vasteras Iron Eagles for 1st in the European Conference and the entire VHL. For the first time in 7 seasons, the Dynamo would play a different European team in the form of Vasteras.

 

The Dynamo would defeat the Iron Eagles in 6 games before playing a new opponent in the finals which was the New York Americans. After 5 games, the Dynamo were the first team since Season 18 and Season 19 to win back to back Continental Cups. Kanou had a record of 8-3-0 with a 0.937 save percentage and a 1.73 G.A.A with 1 shutout and 1 assist. Kanou won his 3rd Continental Cup while also winning the Gordon Howe Trophy (Daisuke Kanou) for the third time in his career. What a fitting end to a masterful career for Daisuke Kanou.

 

Career

Career Regular Season
S18 - VHL - DAV - 65 GP | 31 W | 26 L | 6 OTL | 0.907 SV% | 3.01 G.A.A | 1 SO | 7 A
S19 - VHL - DAV - 64 GP | 46 W | 11 L | 7 OTL | 0.916 SV% | 2.34 G.A.A | 1 SO | 2 A
S20 - VHL - DAV - 64 GP | 50 W | 10 L | 3 OTL | 0.922 SV% | 2.12 G.A.A | 10 SO | 9 A
S21 - VHL - DAV - 65 GP | 39 W | 22 L | 4 OTL | 0.926 SV% | 2.61 G.A.A | 3 SO | 1 A
S22 - VHL - DAV - 65 GP | 43 W | 13 L | 8 OTL | 0.922 SV% | 2.17 G.A.A | 7 SO | 6 A
S23 - VHL - DAV - 64 GP | 48 W | 10 L | 6 OTL | 0.926 SV% | 1.89 G.A.A | 8 SO | 5 A
S24 - VHL - DAV - 62 GP | 51 W | 10 L | 1 OTL | 0.928 SV% | 1.73 G.A.A | 11 SO | 4 A
S25 - VHL - DAV - 64 GP | 42 W | 16 L | 5 OTL | 0.913 SV% | 2.17 G.A.A | 7 SO | 8 A

Career - VHL - 513 GP | 350 W | 118 L | 40 OTL | 0.920 SV% | 2.26 G.A.A | 48 SO | 42 A

Career Playoffs
S18 - VHL - DAV - N/A
S19 - VHL - DAV - 10 GP | 4 W | 6 L | 0 OTL | 0.927 SV% | 2.51 G.A.A | 0 SO | 0 A
S20 - VHL - DAV - 14 GP | 8 W | 6 L | 0 OTL | 0.937 SV% | 1.91 G.A.A | 2 SO | 1 A
S21 - VHL - DAV - 11 GP | 5 W | 4 L | 2 OTL | 0.914 SV% | 2.59 G.A.A | 1 SO | 0 A
S22 - VHL - DAV - 7 GP | 3 W | 3 L | 1 OTL | 0.906 SV% | 3.50 G.A.A | 0 SO | 1 A
S23 - VHL - DAV - 6 GP | 2 W | 3 L | 1 OTL | 0.905 SV% | 2.80 G.A.A | 0 SO | 1 A
S24 - VHL - DAV - 11 GP | 8 W | 1 L | 2 OTL | 0.962 SV% | 0.98 G.A.A | 3 SO | 0 A
S25 - VHL - DAV - 11 GP | 8 W | 3 L | 0 OTL | 0.937 SV% | 1.73 G.A.A | 1 SO | 1 A

Career - VHL - 70 GP | 38 W | 26 L | 6 OTL | 0.927 SV% | 2.29 G.A.A | 7 SO | 4 A

That is the career of the great Daisuke Kanou who had a career record of 350-118-40 with a 0.920 save percentage and a 2.26 G.A.A and 48 shutouts. The Playoff MVP Trophy was renamed in his honor as without him the Dynamo would not have been so great. 

[TheLastOlympian07 2,388]

@tfong

[Baozi 1,662]

Thanks TLO

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Review:

Kanou was before my time here, but it's cool to read up on him. I've heard his name many times even though I never got to "see" him play.