Ice hockey was played in China as early as 1935, though it wasn’t until the ’50s that the sport really began to flourish. The ’80s marked its golden era with a historic best finish of 15th at the World Championships. After decades of stagnation, we’re now witnessing a major revival – the Beijing Olympics ignited a hockey boom, paving the way for a whole new generation of talent.
| CHINA’S ICE HOCKEY IN A NUTSHELL | ||
|---|---|---|
| IIHF Member Since | July 25, 1963 | |
| Men’s World Ranking | 26 | |
| Total Players | 10,786 | |
| Senior Male Players | 1,221 | |
| Junior Players | 8,043 | |
| Female Players | 1,522 | |
| Total Referees | 249 | |
| Indoor Rinks | 104 | |
| Outdoor Rinks | 13 | |
| Nation Population | 1,410,539,758 | |
| Source: IIHF | ||
Chinese Ice Hockey: From Golden Moments to Setbacks and a Roaring Comeback
China’s hockey beginnings were humble. But a new era after 1949 flipped the script: the first clubs emerged, official competitions kicked off, and international matchups were born. The sport really caught on in the Northeast, especially in Heilongjiang province.
China made its World Championship debut in 1972, and 1981 proved to be a turning point when the men’s team fought its way to Pool B promotion on home ice in Beijing – igniting a golden age for Chinese hockey.
Throughout the ’80s, China led the pack in Pool C and even twice climbed into Pool B. In the Asian arena, they outpaced Japan by winning the first two Winter Asian Games.
A brief three-year stint in Pool B during the early ’90s served as a swan song before new conditions pushed hockey to the fringes of national interest.
Then everything changed in 2015 when Beijing secured the rights to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. The government launched a massive winter sports development program, overhauling infrastructure and boosting grassroots participation. The Olympics itself – where China fielded a “dream team” of heritage players led by Brandon Yip – once again rekindled national passion, prompting fans to rediscover the charm and rich legacy of Chinese hockey.
Chinese Ice Hockey Teams, Leagues and Players
China Hockey Team at the 2022 Olympics โ Partย V: A Turning Point?
China Hockey Team at the 2022 Olympics โ Partย IV: Naturalization
2026 IIHF U20 World Championship Division 2A: South Korea Earns Promotion, China Impresses with Grit
China Hockey Team at the 2022 Olympics โ Partย III: Roster Struggles
China Hockey Team at the 2022 Olympics โ Partย II: Prep Underway
China Hockey Team at the 2022 Olympics โ Partย I: How it All Began
2026 Winter Olympic Games, Milano โ Cortina: Asian Teams at the Ice Hockey Qualification
2026 IIHF Ice Hockey Asia Championship: Back-to-Back Glory for Kazakhstan in Beijing
Sangyeob Kim Leads Korea to Silver in Statement Win Over China
Kazakhstan Cruises Past China 5โ1 at the 2026 IIHF Asia Championship
China Men’s Ice Hockey Team: Olympics as a Turning Point
China launched a serious hockey program in anticipation of the Beijing Olympics, only to have it disrupted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. In the end, the men’s Olympic squad featured multiple naturalized players – making up more than half the roster – though most had Chinese heritage.
All things considered, this makeshift lineup didn’t fare too badly, with their narrow 2–3 loss to the reigning silver medalists, Germany, leaving the biggest impression. In that very game, Parker Foo – competing under his Chinese name Shuai Fu – scored China’s historic first goal at the Olympics.
The greatest benefit of hosting the Olympics wasn’t necessarily the participation of the Chinese team, but rather the kickstart of a systematic hockey development program that continues to this day.
China Ice Hockey National Team at the World Championship
After 2015, following a major shift in government support, China’s global hockey standing began to steadily improve. The era of heritage players lasted only two years – a team dominated by North American-born players of Chinese descent propelled China into Division 1B during the Olympic year and, just a year later, secured a valuable bronze medal in that division for the country.
Meanwhile, a new generation of Chinese hockey has emerged, and since 2024, national team’s coaching staff have relied exclusively on domestic talent.
China Hockey Team at the Asian Winter Games and IIHF Asia Championship
The Chinese team has been a fixture at the Asian Winter Games since their inception. In the first two editions (1986, 1990), they even bested their then-main rival, Japan, but success became more elusive thereafter. In the most recent 2025 edition, after falling to eventual champions Kazakhstan in the semifinals, the team also came up short in the bronze medal game against South Korea.
In 2025, they had finished 4th for the fourth straight time, yet unlike before, they gave all the favorites a serious challenge – even pushing Kazakhstan to the limit in the semifinals. The biggest highlight in recent years was their first win over South Korea in 18 years, achieved at the IIHF Asia Championship 2025.
Chinese Ice Hockey National Team Players and Coach
In recent years, several foreign coaches have taken the reins of China’s national team. The challenging task of leading the underdog home team at the Beijing Olympics fell to Canadian coach Ivano Zanatta, but a year later, his countryman Greg Ireland took over.
In the 2023–2024 season, the ambitious Spiros Anastas worked with a rejuvenated Chinese squad. At the start of the following season, the Chinese Ice Hockey Association (CIHA) secured the services of experienced longtime NHL coach Perry Pearn.
At the top of the historical player stats stands one name: Dahai Wang. He not only donned the Chinese jersey in 87 games but also amassed 47 points with 19 goals and 28 assists. The long-time captain of the national team, who represented China from 1998 to 2012, is also among the most successful Chinese players in ALIH history.
Chinese Hockey Team in Numbers and Stats
Take a closer look at the key statistics that trace the history of Chinese hockey.
| ๐ IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP | |
| Appearance | 45 |
| Best Result | 15th (1982) |
| โ๏ธ WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES | |
| Appearance | 1 |
| Best Result | 12th (2022) |
| ๐ ASIAN WINTER GAMES | |
| Appearance | 9 |
| Best Result | ๐ฅ (1986, 1990) |
| ๐ STATISTICS | |
| First Match | Romania 2:4 (1956) |
| Biggest Win | Kuwait 35:0 (1999) |
| Biggest Defeat | Norway 1:25 (2005) |
Kunlun Red Star – Chinese Team in KHL
The most well-known professional Chinese hockey club is Kunlun Red Star, which has competed in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) since 2016.
The club’s creation was closely tied to China’s preparations for hosting the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. As part of these efforts, a centralized development program was launched to prepare a broad group of Olympic hopefuls, with Kunlun serving as the flagship team. Additional Chinese teams were established in the VHL, MHL, lower-tier North American junior leagues, and even the Czech third division to support the initiative.
Kunlun’s presence in the KHL allowed China to naturalize a group of heritage players – North American-born skaters with Chinese ancestry – such as Brandon Yip, Spencer Foo, Parker Foo, Tyler Wong, and others. The team also provided opportunities for top domestic prospects, including Rudi Ying, Zesen Zhang, and Ruinan Yan.
The Future of the Chinese KHL Team Remains Unclear
Today, Kunlun’s status is uncertain. There are no longer any Chinese-trained players on the roster, and even heritage players and former Olympians are now in the minority. The lineup is dominated by imports from Canada and the U.S.. Additionally, during the pandemic, the club relocated to Mytishchi, a suburb of Moscow, further distancing itself from its original mission.
With the launch of the Chinese Ice Hockey League (CIHL), it remains unclear whether Kunlun Red Star will continue to play a role in shaping China’s national team.
Chinese Ice Hockey League (CIHL)
Chinese hockey has long struggled due to the lack of a fully developed domestic professional league. A major turning point came in November 2024 when the Chinese Ice Hockey League (CIHL) was launched, with Brandon Yip, captain of China’s 2022 Olympic team, performing the ceremonial puck drop.
The inaugural 2024–25 season is being played in a modest format, featuring four teams, each playing 18 regular-season games. All teams advance to the playoffs, with the semifinals pairing the top seed against the fourth seed and the second seed against the third. The season concludes with a third-place game, followed by the championship clash to crown China’s first CIHL champion.
China Ice Hockey League: Teams, Players, Imports
To raise the league’s competitive level, the governing body has allowed each team to sign up to five foreign players. As a result, 17 skaters from Russia and Belarus have joined the competition. However, this rule does not apply to goaltenders – in an effort to develop a strong domestic pipeline at the position, teams are required to use only homegrown netminders.
The Beijing Lions, built around the core of the Chinese national team, have emerged as the league’s powerhouse. Their biggest rival in the inaugural season is KRS Shenzhen.
Current CIHL Teams:
- Beijing Lions
- KRS Shenzhen
- Anhui Xinhua
- Liaoning Shenyang
Chinese Ice Hockey Championship and National Winter Games: A Lasting Tradition
China’s domestic hockey structure is further complemented by two prestigious tournaments with long-standing traditions:
- Chinese Ice Hockey Championship – held annually since 1953
- National Winter Games of China – staged approximately every four to five years since 1959, featuring ice hockey as part of its program
Both competitions take the form of short-term tournaments, bringing together teams representing various cities and regions across China. Recent editions have highlighted a shift in the country’s hockey landscape – Beijing’s select team has claimed victory in recent years, effectively ending the long-standing dominance of teams from Heilongjiang province, specifically Harbin and Qiqihar.
An interesting aspect of these tournaments is the participation of Chinese players based in Canada and the United States. One notable example is Haoxi “Simon” Wang, a top Chinese draft prospect, who was part of Beijing’s championship-winning squad in the youth tournament at the 2024 National Winter Games of China.
IJ-League: A Joint Japan-China Venture with Big Plans and Many Questions
In addition to the CIHL, the 2024–25 season has also seen the launch of another league project – the Japan-China IJ-League. The first taste of this venture came in the summer of 2024 with an inaugural – or perhaps more accurately, “zero-year” – edition featuring three teams: Beijing Lions, Nagoya Orques, and Tokyo Wilds.
The Beijing Lions are expected to compete in both leagues simultaneously, playing in the IJ-League while also participating in China’s CIHL. The official full-scale launch of the IJ-League is planned for 2025, with the possibility of additional teams joining.
The league’s schedule will likely be structured to avoid conflicts with the well-established Asia League Ice Hockey (ALIH). The key ambition behind this new initiative is to expand the sport’s presence in major metropolitan areas.
Chinese Ice Hockey Teams in the ALIH
Chinese hockey initially had a presence in the Asia League Ice Hockey (ALIH), with at least one Chinese team competing in the league from 2004 to 2017. However, these teams consistently lagged behind their Japanese and South Korean counterparts.
One of the most intriguing chapters came between 2007 and 2009, when the San Jose Sharks of the NHL officially entered the Chinese hockey scene.
China Sharks: The NHL’s San Jose Experiment in Chinese Hockey
The merger of two existing teams, Changchun Fuao and Hosa, led to the creation of China Sharks. Despite the involvement of notable imports – including a brief appearance by four-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux – the team failed to improve its results. The project fell short of the NHL club’s expectations, leading the Sharks to withdraw from the franchise in 2009. The team then rebranded as China Dragon.
Chinese Teams in the ALIH:
- Qiqihar (2004 – 2006)
- Harbin (2004 – 2006)
- Nordic Vikings Beijing (2005 – 2006)
- Changchun Fuao (2006 – 2007)
- Hosa (2006 – 2007)
- China Sharks (2007 – 2009)
- China Dragon (2009 – 2017)
Best Ice Hockey Players in China
One of the biggest domestic stars is Yuyang Hou of Beijing Lions – a magician with the puck, capable of bringing fans to their feet with his dazzling stickhandling skills. His linemate and favorite attacking partner, Jing Wang, complements him perfectly, as the two seem to find each other on the ice without even looking.
The core of the current national team is further built around veterans from the Beijing Olympics, who sharpened their skills in the KHL, including Juncheng Yan, Pengfei Zhang, Zesen Zhang, Zimeng Chen, Ruinan Yan, and Jianing Guo.
Wearing the ‘C’, Jiaqi Zhang provides the team with experience and leadership.
Haoxi “Simon” Wang: China’s Top Prospect Targeting the NHL Draft
The brightest rising star in Chinese hockey is Haoxi Wang, known in Canada and the U.S. as Simon Wang. Currently playing for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals, he has already committed to Boston University and is set to join the prestigious NCAA next season.
The towering defenseman, who stands at 198 cm yet moves with remarkable skating ability for his size, is expected to be a high pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
If selected early, he would become the highest-drafted China-born player in history. Given his development path, it’s fair to say he spent the majority of his youth hockey career in China.
Which Way Will He Go? Kevin He, First Chinese-Born Player to Sign an NHL Contract
The current record belongs to Hongtian “Kevin” He, who was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2024 and soon after signed his entry-level contract. Unlike Wang, who has already had some involvement with China’s national teams, He’s future international allegiance remains uncertain – whether he will represent his native China or opt for Canada, where he has been raised since the age of six.
China Ice Hockey’s Top Prospects: More Young Guns to Follow
A growing number of Chinese prospects have taken the overseas route, and more are expected to follow. Several of them are competing in leagues like the OJHL, BCHL, and AJHL, hoping to climb the ranks – just as Haoxi Wang did when he made the jump from the OJHL to the OHL.
Among the notable names are Kailin Chen and Ming Shen Hao “Steven” Li, both of whom have already represented China internationally. Another intriguing prospect is their national team teammate, Juncheng Yan, who plays in the Canadian university league USports.
A further name to keep an eye on is goaltender Shifeng Chen, better known in North America as Stephen Chen. At just 18 years old, he became China’s starting netminder, quickly winning over fans with his aggressive style, competitiveness, and passion. He is currently playing in the NCDC.
China NHL Players in the Making
China is still waiting for its hockey version of Yao Ming – someone who can break into the world’s top league and pave the way for future generations. However, a few Chinese-born players have already been selected in the NHL Draft, and more could be on the way soon.
The first-ever Chinese player to be drafted into the NHL was defenseman Andong Song, selected by the New York Islanders in the sixth round, 172nd overall, in 2015. The former captain of China’s U18 national team never made it to the NHL, though. After moving from the USHL to the NCAA, he failed to play a single game and ultimately retired from hockey prematurely.
The second Chinese-born player to be drafted into the NHL was Hontiang “Kevin” He, selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the fourth round, 109th overall, in 2024. That December, He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the club, making him the first-ever Chinese-born player to ink a deal with an NHL team. He currently serves as the captain of the Niagara IceDogs in the junior-level OHL.
NHL Players of Chinese Descent: from Kwong to Ho-Sang
The NHL has yet to see a true homegrown Chinese player – someone who began his career in China and can at least partly be considered a product of the country’s hockey system. However, history does include several NHL players with Chinese roots.
The first was Larry Kwong, a native of Vernon, Canada, and the son of Chinese immigrants. Others include Mike Wong, Peter Ing, Chris Beckford-Tseu, Brandon Yip, Spencer Foo, and Josh Ho-Sang. Yip and Foo represented their ancestral homeland at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Naturalized Players with NHL Experience
In an effort to build a more competitive team ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, China naturalized 15 players from Canada, the U.S., and Russia. The majority – 11 of them – had at least partial Chinese heritage.
Five of these imported players had NHL experience: Brandon Yip, Spencer Foo, Ryan Sproul, Jeremy Smith, and Jake Chelios. However, none of them can truly be considered Chinese NHL players, despite some sources inaccurately listing them as such.
Chinese Ice Hockey Association (CIHA): contact
The governing body of Chinese hockey, the Chinese Ice Hockey Association, is based in Beijing. Its current president is Wang Xuan.
| Chinese Ice Hockey Association | |
|---|---|
| President | Wang Xuan |
| Address | Chinese Ice Hockey Association Huaxi Live Center A202 Fuxing Road 69 Haidian District 100039 Beijing China |
| Phone | +86 10 60510503 |
| ciha@icehockeychina.cn | |
| Website | icehockey.sport.org.cn |
#️⃣ Was Hockey Invented in China?
It is true that even in ancient China, a game resembling modern forms of hockey was played, where players used curved sticks to chase a certain object. However, similar games have also been documented in ancient Egypt, Persia, and Mongolia. Even the ancient Greeks and Aztecs had their own versions of a hockey-like game. It’s impossible to say with certainty who first invented the earliest form of hockey.
#️⃣ Is Ice Hockey Popular in China?
Ice hockey enjoys a certain level of popularity in northern Chinese provinces like Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia. The sport also has a solid tradition in Beijing. The 2022 Beijing Olympics and the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin brought in new fans and sparked fresh enthusiasm for hockey. However, it still lags far behind sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball.
#️⃣ Is There a Chinese Hockey Team?
The men’s national team competes in Division 1B of the IIHF World Championship, while both the U20 and U18 squads play one tier lower, in Division 2A. On the club level, the most well-known team is Kunlun Red Star, which plays in the KHL. The professional Chinese Ice Hockey League (CIHL) currently consists of four teams: Beijing Lions, KRS Shenzhen, Anhui Xinhua and Liaoning Shenyang.
#️⃣ Is China Good in Hockey?
The Chinese men’s team currently sits 26th in the IIHF rankings and ranks 4th in Asia, trailing Kazakhstan, South Korea, and Japan. After a prolonged decline dating back to the 1990s, Chinese hockey has begun to rebound, thanks to a government-backed winter sports development program launched ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
#️⃣ Which Chinese Hockey Team Plays in KHL?
Kunlun Red Star has been competing in the KHL since the 2016 – 17 season. Initially, the team was meant to serve as a development hub for the Chinese national program, but today, not a single China-born player remains on the roster. During the pandemic, the club relocated to Mytishchi, Russia, and has yet to return to China.
#️⃣ Has a Chinese Player Ever Played in the NHL?
No China-born player has reached the NHL to date, though several of Chinese descent have. Top prospects Kevin He and Simon Wang are currently on the radar, while Andong Song was drafted but ended his career early.
