Korean hockey players come around about as often as a Jelenic goalie charge. The Kim family is doing all it can to change that on its own.

Kim’s introduction to hockey began with two older cousins, who both enjoyed considerable success playing hockey around the United States. When Kim’s father moved to America from Korea, he lived with his cousins, following them around the nation from game to game. It didn’t take him long to fall in love with the sport.

“My father really liked the speed and the physical aspect of hockey,” Kim said. “Once he saw that he had two sons, he thought ‘Wow, it would be great to have them start playing.’”

Kim says hockey is growing fast in South Korea, and the nation is making some inroads into American hockey as well. Richard Park—the only Korean-born player in the NHL—is a highly-regarded role player for the Minnesota Wild. Yale forward Denis Nam played with Kim at the youth level, and Kim’s brother Dennis is currently a freshman at Division III Williams College—one of several D-III players from Korea.

Although he once entertained thoughts of playing for the Korean national team, Kim says his final game for Harvard this year will be his last in organized hockey. When that fateful moment will come is anyone’s guess. The Crimson hopes its season extends at least into the NCAA Tournament three weeks from now.

But one thing is certain. Kim will skate in his last-ever game with all the excitement and intensity of his first—and of every other he’s played in.

“He’s never taken a shift off in six years,” Fried said. “He’s all you can ask for in a teammate.”

—Staff writer Elijah M. Alper can be reached at alper@fas.harvard.edu.