For the over 1.5 million Korean-Americans living in the United States today, what part do sports play in the American experience? For that matter, what role do sports have in Korean culture? This article will begin the examination of the contributions and achievements of Korean-born and Korean-American athletes who have made great strides in U.S. sports, utilizing the case of a Korea-born hockey player, and explore why participation might not be as prevalent as among other cultures.