At only 18-years-old, Zach Yuen is already inspiring a nation to play hockey. Selected this past June by the Winnipeg Jets in the fourth round, #119 overall at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Yuen is the first Chinese-Canadian defenceman to be drafted into the NHL.

Currently in his third season manning the blueline with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, Yuen isn’t the type of player to turn heads on the ice, but he still manages to stand out. His steady, reliable play, solid work ethic, and phenomenal skating are what set him apart.

As a child, Zach Yuen was involved in figure skating, and the lessons he learned there have easily translated into his hockey career. He has also gained a reputation for his hard work and his dedication to his fitness and nutrition. Going into his 2009-10 season with Tri-City, Yuen first leaned down to 178 pounds, before adding 25 pounds of muscle mass.

Yuen was one of the biggest movers in the Central Scouting Services’ final rankings last season, moving from 87 to 69 for North American skaters. He looks to continue to rise among prospects as he spends this season continuing to grow in his role with the Tri-City Americans.