Team China Tickets

Ice hockey has always been dominated by countries like Canada, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. But recent years have seen the rise of a new hockey powerhouse - China.

China is known for its prowess in sports like gymnastics, badminton, and table tennis. But now they are making huge strides in another arena - ice hockey.

The Chinese Ice Hockey Association was established in 1952, but it wasn't until recent years that the country began to focus on the sport as a serious contender. In 2017, the International Olympic Committee approved the addition of women's ice hockey teams from China to compete in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. This decision sparked a renewed interest in the sport as the country aims to build a hockey program of its own.

Under the guidance of Canadian coach, Kevin Primeau, Team China has made great strides in their development. They may not be ready to compete with Canada or the United States just yet, but the program has come a long way in a very short time.

In November 2019, the women's team traveled to North America to compete against some top-level college teams. Despite losing all five games, they gained valuable experience playing against strong competition. The team even scored their first-ever goal against an NCAA Division I school.

The men's team has also been making progress. They recently competed in the division two Group B World Championships, where they finished in second place and earned a promotion to Division II Group A. While this is still a far cry from competing at the highest level, it shows that the program is headed in the right direction.

One key asset to the program is NHL Hall of Famer, Zhao Zhiyun. As president of the Chinese Ice Hockey Association, he has made it a priority to invest in the growth of the sport. He believes that if China wants to be a legitimate player in ice hockey, then they need to start with youth development and building a grassroots program.

China also has the added advantage of hosting the 2022 Beijing Olympics, which will put a spotlight on their hockey program. The women's team, in particular, has a chance to make history as they compete in front of a home crowd.

Team China still has a long way to go before they can compete with the likes of Canada or Sweden, but they are making great strides in their development. As more resources continue to be invested in the sport, it will be interesting to see just how far China's hockey program can go.