Yokohama GRITS

The Yokohama GRITS (横浜グリッツ Yokohama gurittsu) are a professional ice hockey team based in Yokohama, Japan. They are a members of Asia League Ice Hockey and play their home games at the Shin-Yokohama Skating Center.

Overview
The Yokohama GRITS was founded on 2 May 2019 by Grits Sports Innovators Corporation, an organisation led by Akihito Usui. Usui has been a fan of the sport since childhood, having grown up in Sapporo. The GRITS are the first hockey team to be based in the Greater Tokyo Area since the Seibu Prince Rabbits folded in 2009. On June 2, 2020 the team was announced as the 8th member of Asia League Ice Hockey, with former NHL player Mike Kennedy serving as the teams Head Coach. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league was forced to not play its planned 2020–21 season, with a three country Asia League tournament scheduled in its place. An Asia League Japan Cup is, as of 30 September 2020, scheduled to take beginning in October of the same year, with the GRITS scheduled to take part.