26 October 2007

Interview with Richard Park of the New York Islanders

Richard Park might appear to be just an average Korean guy, with an above-average build. However, it might be surprising to find that he is actually a professional hockey player – certainly not a typical career path for most Asian Americans. Park plays Right Wing for the New York Islanders, and recently signed a contract extension with the team. He was born in Seoul, South Korea, and he is the second Korean-born person to play in the NHL. 

Since scoring a goal in his very first NHL game in 1995, the 31-year old Park has been playing professional hockey for well over a decade, for teams including the Minnesota Wild, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Philadelphia Flyers, and the team that drafted him in 1994, the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has also had the honor of playing for the U.S. team in the 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006 World Championships, as well as the 1994 and 1995 World Junior Championships. Park is coming off his best season points-wise in the NHL, in which he scored 26 points (including ten goals) in 82 games. This also includes two game-winning goals against his former team, the Flyers. 

"Richard exemplifies the type of character players we want to be New York Islanders," says Islanders General Manager Garth Snow. "He's a team-first guy who plays with his heart on his sleeve and battles every shift." In his tenth NHL season, he has already scored three goals and eight points as of this writing (putting him on track for a career high), and signed a contract extension keeping him on the Islanders through 2010. (www.newyorkislanders.com)

Park after getting winning goal!

We spoke to Park when he came to Stony Brook University to give the keynote address at the Citizenship Ceremony, where more than 100 new citizens in the Stony Brook community were sworn in with the oath of U.S. Citizenship. The ceremony was held at the Charles B. Wang Center, which, as luck would have it, was funded by the Islanders’ owner, Charles Wang. Park discussed many issues with us before his speech, ranging from being seen as a role model to his working relationship with Wang.

We first wanted to congratulate you on both your contract extension, and scoring your first goal of the season.  We don’t know much about hockey, but we wanted to talk to you about your place in the community.  Being one of only two Asian Americans in NHL, do you see yourself as a role model to the Asian American community?

No, I don’t see myself as a role model, but rather as just someone who is doing what he loves. My family is my inspiration to keep going every day, and I am glad to be able to interact with them daily. I love what I do; hockey is a great sport and when you are talking about sports, you’re definitely dealing with a very different culture than what I grew up around. I was born in Korea and came to the U.S. when I was three, and I didn’t take up sports until I got a little older. However, for me to take up a sport [hockey] that my family had no idea of what it was, it was bringing our whole family into a different culture.

The Islanders are unique among U.S. professional sports teams, in that they have an Asian American owner [Charles Wang] and a Native American coach [Ted Nolan]. You’ve been in the league for awhile, but do you think the Islanders’ diversity helped you get adjusted quicker than on a team like the Minnesota Wild?  Do you see Charles Wang as a role model?

It might be naïve on my part, but I try to see beyond color and race – to me, everyone is equal. No matter what your surroundings are, you have to be yourself. The Islanders have been a very welcoming organization, however. I definitely look up to Charles Wang as my role model, considering that he came to the U.S. at a young age like me. To be at the position that he is in right now takes a lot of perseverance and determination.

Do you have any advice for young people out there who want to get involved with hockey?

I would say to just get out there and have fun. Of course, you need to buy the skates first, and then you go to the rink and enjoy yourself. Based on my experience, it might be the best sport out there if you want to meet some really nice people.

How does your family feel about you being a professional hockey player?

My family loves it!  Actually, my father is my biggest fan. He went from not knowing a thing about the sport, to someone that comes to every game.  It’s something that ties the family together.

I don’t know if you’re allowed to tell us this, but what will you be addressing today?

I don’t know. [Laughs] I’m not even too sure, just anything that they throw at me. You might see me making things up on the fly. [Park actually gave an eloquent keynote detailing how he got involved in skating - tagging along with his sisters while they learned figure skating - and the importance of becoming an American in a land where being an immigrant is a source of pride and possibility.]

Well, we will be sure to listen for that.  Thank you for speaking with us, and good luck.