The Newcastle Northstars have announced the signing of Japanese defenceman Akihide Watanabe for the 2026 Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) season. Watanabe has spent 2025–26 playing for Stars Kobe in the Asia League where he recorded ten goals and eight assists from 40 games.
Between 2015 and 2026, Watanabe has spent time playing in the All Japan Ice Hockey Championship, All Japan Inter College Championship, and the Asia League. He is also a former member of the Japanese national under-20 team, having competed at the U20 World Championships and Winter Universiade between 2016 and 2017.
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