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Patrick Blennerhassett

The sophomore slump is a common plight for athletes in any sport, however it’s quite clear it doesn’t apply to Filipino-American Jason Robertson.
The Dallas Stars left winger, whose mom Mercedes was born in the Philippines, is averaging more than a point a game through 23 games in the NHL this season, just his second in the league.
During the 2020-21 campaign, Robertson, who stands 190cm and weighs 90 kgs, was a Calder trophy finalist for rookie of the year, and has now solidified himself as one of the top wingers in the entire league.
The 22-year-old’s mother Mercedes immigrated to the US with her family when she was three years old as the youngest of six children. Robertson’s deceased grandfather, Lee Dano, left behind a career as a lawyer in Manila to be a taxi driver and real estate title officer in America.

After being drafted 39th overall by the Stars in 2017, Robertson, in speaking to reporters, said he knew he was already going to be seen as a role model for minority kids playing ice hockey in the US before he made his NHL debut.
“They said, ‘You know, just because of this, you’re a role model for all the young kids coming up,’” Robertson told The Dallas Morning News in an interview. “Now that I think about it, it’s pretty impressive.”
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Robertson’s father Hugh is of Scottish descent and hails from Michigan, and noted his dream was to watch his son play at the iconic Staples Centre in Los Angeles, which is now known as the Crypto.com arena.
A dream that is now realised and Robertson said before watching his younger brother Nick get drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019, he got another reminder of how important he can be to a new generation of hockey talent being fuelled by a massive rise in multiculturalism across North America.
While training in California, one of the coaches at the rink brought a young South Korean-American player up to meet Robertson.
“He’s like, ‘This kid looks up to you because you’re Asian and there’s not a lot of Asians that play in the NHL, who make it somewhere,’” Robertson said of the conversation. “At that time, I thought, that’s something that I can be a role model towards. Not a lot of people can do that.”

On top of that he noted he was also approached by a group of Canadian-Filipino boys in Toronto who also said they look up to him because of his heritage.
“I did not realise with all the hustle and bustle of life and the hockey chaos how important it was until people started to point it out,” said Robertson’s mom Mercedes. “With them, I’m actually really proud because they are embracing it and they really understand how exciting it is. Since hockey is not typical for the Asian community, it’s not a permission but almost like ‘Hey, it can be more than just the normal, typical sports that you see. Now, there’s hockey.’”
A Post Magazine cover story titled “The Game Changers” outlined a wave of ice hockey players of Asian descent not only making their way into the NHL, but becoming star players as well.
Robertson’s draft year turned out to be a historic one for the Asian ice hockey community as three players (Robertson, Nick Suzuki and Kailer Yamamoto) were also selected in the first two rounds. Yamamoto is Japanese-American and Suzuki is Japanese-Canadian.
Without the NHL’s best, Russia now favourites to win Olympic gold in Beijing
Robertson said he already felt a kinship with the two and takes any opportunity he can to chat with them and other players with similar mixed heritage.
“You see an Asian hockey player, I feel like there’s always a connection right there,” Robertson said in an interview. “It’s weird, but you just feel comfortable talking to with them.”


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NHL (National Hockey League)

Filipino-American NHL star Jason Robertson relishes his status as a role model for Asian kids

Dallas Stars left winger Jason Robertson, who is half Filipino, is making waves in the NHL. Photo: AP 

Dallas Stars left winger Jason Robertson (21) attacks the net during an NHL game. Robertson is part of a wave of players of Asian descent leaving their mark in the league. Photo: AP

Jason Robertson celebrates with his Dallas Stars teammates after a goal. Photo: AP 

Beijing 2022: NHL players disappointed at missing out on Winter Olympics as countries scramble to fill their rosters

The ice hockey venue for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, which will not feature NHL stars. Photo: Reuters

Boston Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy says he is disappointed at not being able to go to the Olympics. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

The Czech Republic’s David Pastrnak says it is a dream to play at the Olympics. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Beijing 2022: without the NHL’s best, Russia are favourites for Olympic gold, but could Finland or Germany spring a surprise?

Dinamo Riga’s Lukas Radill (left) vies with HC Vityaz Moscow Region’s Igor Rydchenko during the 2021-2022 Kontinental Hockey League. Photo: Xinhua

Ilya Kovalchuk has not officially retired and may take a management role for the Russian Hockey Federation in Beijing. Photo: AP

Pavel Datsyuk #13 is expected to be part of the Russian team. Photo: AFP

Beijing 2022: NHL says Winter Olympics ‘no longer feasible’ for its players because of Covid-19 surge

Canada’s Shea Weber, trips over USA forward David Backes during the third period of a men’s semifinal hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. NHL players will not take part in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing. Photo: AP

Staff members move a net as they maintain the rink, at an ice hockey competition venue for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, inside the National Indoor Stadium, in Beijing, China. Photo: Reuters/Tingshu Wang

Russia forward Evgeni Malkin seals off the puck from the USA’s Ryan McDonagh in a game at the 2014 Winter Olympics. Photo: AP

NHL to withdraw from Beijing Winter Olympics amid coronavirus surge: ESPN

Dallas Stars centre Joe Pavelski celebrates after scoring against the Minnesota Wild in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Texas on December 20. Photo: AP

Beijing 2022: NHL officials to discuss Winter Olympics as rise in Covid-19 cases sees dozens of games being postponed

Washington Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette wears a mask during his team’s game against the Los Angeles Kings. Photo: AP

A mix of masked and unmasked fans watch Seattle Kraken play the Pittsburgh Penguins in Seattle. Photo: AP

An ice resurfacer prepares the rink before an NHL game between the visiting Los Angeles Kings and the Florida Panthers. Photo: AP

Sport

Other Sport


The 22-year-old left winger, whose mother was born in the Philippines, has cemented himself as one of the Dallas Stars’ top players
NHL players of Asian descent are fast making their mark in the league and showcasing the sport’s growing diversity and multiculturalism



NHL Dallas Stars star Jason Robertson, whose mother was born in the Philippines, is showcasing a high level of talent already in his short time in the league.
