Young hockey players skate in nod to upcoming Olympics

A group of young ice hockey players marked the 30-day countdown to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics by playing a friendly game on New Year's Day in Toronto.

The U-11 (under 11 years old) kids from the Toronto Future Stars and Maple Stars, represented by players of Chinese and non-Chinese descent, respectively, received a rousing round of applause as they demonstrated their hockey skills.

Jeanette Han, president of the Canada China Sports and Culture Exchange Center, who organized the event, said it was a great opportunity to promote winter sports exchanges between China and Canada.

"Sports and hockey have no boundary. Canada is a mature ski country with rich resources and experiences of ice hockey; we hope more Chinese kids can learn from Canadian kids in ice hockey," said Han.

Shin Li, head coach of the Future Stars, said playing such a fun game was the best way to welcome the Beijing Olympics.

"I am very glad to see a lot of Chinese Canadian hockey kids growing up and learning the best hockey of the world in this long history and hockey culture soil," said Li. "We hope to promote hockey as a major sport in China during the next 10 years."

"It will be fantastic for the young kids to play on the ice to welcome the Beijing Winter Olympics," said Andrew Kalapaca, coach of the Maple Stars. "We're looking forward to the Games. It's just great for the countries and every participant involved in the Games."

The 24th Winter Olympic Games will be open in Beijing on Feb 4. The official motto of the Games is "Together for a Shared Future", with the concept of "Green, Inclusive, Open and Clean".

According to Chinese Consul General in Toronto Han Tao, who attended the pregame ceremony and dropped the puck to start the game, the Olympics will be "green", with all venues run on green energy. It will also be a grand gathering for global Winter Olympians and winter sports lovers.

"Canada is a powerhouse in ice and snow sports, and it has hosted the Winter Olympic Games twice. The sports circles of China and Canada have always maintained good relations, with many exchanges in ice hockey and curling," said Han.

"We hope that the Beijing Winter Olympic Games will further strengthen the cooperation of our two countries in ice and snow sports. It is our expectation that today's players will visit China one day, exchange skills with young Chinese players, and become little envoys for China-Canada friendship," Han said.

China's successful bid for the Winter Olympics has already sparked the people's passion for ice and snow sports in the country. Around 300 million people have been encouraged to participate in winter sports since 2018, and ice hockey has struck a chord with them.

Tim Pearson, manager of Bauer Hockey Ltd, who has been working in the hockey industry in Canada for more than 30 years, began focusing on China in 2017.

"Even if 1 percent of the 300 million people can put on a pair of skates, it (the market) will be bigger than North America combined," Pearson said at a panel discussion held in person in Beijing and virtually in Canada late last year.

At least 8,000 players have registered with the Chinese Ice Hockey Association, and that doesn't include the registers of school programs and regional programs, Pearson said. Meanwhile, the construction of ice rinks has more than doubled in China in recent years, from 140 to 340.

He mentioned "the excitement of the Olympics, both building into the Olympics, and then following the Olympics".

Even during the pandemic, Pearson successfully developed business in China. He set up the infrastructure remotely with his Chinese partner.

"So now that the hockey season has started off pretty much to a high degree of normalcy … we're seeing games being played in China," Pearson added.

Radley Mackenzie, founder of SinoSports Development & Radical eCoaching, whose business is helping develop winter sports and hockey specifically at the grassroots level, has worked with families and education departments in China to help connect students with elite Canadian sports coaches.

"I think there's no doubt that it's been super exciting to see the passion come out of the parents and the kids, and it was a good time to be a young hockey player in China, because you got to meet all the stars in the field and work with them," said Mackenzie.

Mackenzie believes that it's just the beginning for Chinese ice hockey, given how player numbers have increased, and there'll be more opportunities for both players and markets.

"So the (Olympic) rings are coming; the Beijing 2022 Games will be a big boost. And shortly after, you will see the local Chinese hero growing up (to be) the international hero in winter sports," said Mackenzie.