ASIAN ICE HOCKEY

There was plenty of buzz surrounding China’s men’s hockey team both in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics and throughout the tournament itself. Some were excited to see a fresh, lesser-known national squad take the ice on such a big stage, but many couldn’t get past the team’s heavy reliance on naturalized players.

February 2022: Chinese Hockey Makes History

One way or another, nothing will ever change the fact that on February 10, 2022, history was made at the Beijing National Indoor Stadium. In front of just 947 spectators – the limited crowd a result of strict COVID protocols – the men’s national hockey team of the People’s Republic of China stepped onto Olympic ice for the very first time.

The opponent? None other than the United States, a hockey powerhouse that proved far too much for the Chinese squad. Despite a promising start, Team China ultimately suffered a heavy 0–8 defeat.

Two days later, China managed to give the experienced German national team a real scare – falling just short in a 2–3 loss to the reigning Olympic silver medalists.

The historic first Olympic goal for China was scored by Parker Foo, who competed under his Chinese name, Shuai Fu. Watching proudly from home was his father, a member of the Chinese diaspora in Guyana. (1)

China’s second goal of the night came from Tyler Wong – known at the Games as Taile Wang – who also has Chinese heritage through his father. (2)

China wrapped up the group stage with a 0–5 loss to Canada. Just two days later, the two teams met again in the playoff qualification round. Despite a spirited effort, China’s Olympic run came to an end with a 2–7 defeat.

Reactions to Team China’s Olympic Performance

Team China’s Olympic campaign didn’t exactly receive a standing ovation from the global hockey community. However, reactions within China painted a very different picture. Social media was flooded with warm, supportive messages, with many Chinese fans embracing the players as their own. (3)

After all, the majority of the roster was made up of players with Chinese roots – and even those without, like goaltender Jeremy Smith, earned widespread admiration. The American-born netminder not only stood tall between the pipes, but also showed a genuine interest in Chinese culture, something that didn’t go unnoticed by local fans and teammates alike – including Rudi Ying. (4)

“Captain China” Brandon Yip Inspires the Next Generation of Chinese Hockey Talent

Brandon Yip also earned widespread admiration. The veteran of nearly 200 NHL games skated under the name Jinguang Ye in the land of his ancestors, but to Chinese hockey fans, he was simply “Captain China.” Though his playing career is nearing its end, Yip has repeatedly expressed his commitment to supporting the growth of hockey in China.

It was, in fact, Yip himself who best captured the meaning of Team China’s Olympic journey when he posted the following words on Weibo: (5)

The End of the Heritage Player Era and the Rise of a New Generation of Chinese Talent

The moment the Olympic flame was extinguished over Beijing marked the end of an era that began in 2015, when the city was officially named as host. Over the course of seven years, China’s hockey movement poured considerable effort and resources into developing the sport – efforts that culminated at the 2022 Games.

But in many ways, this wasn’t an ending at all. On the contrary, the rapid growth sparked by Olympic participation could very well launch Chinese hockey toward a brighter future.

The group of heritage players led by Brandon Yip reunited for two more international tournaments. At the Division IIA World Championship, they powered China to promotion. The following year, competing in Division IB, they came close to back-to-back promotions. Although they fell short, earning the bronze medal was still a solid achievement.

Photo: Wikimedia/Ubcwwong

But soon after, China’s new hockey leadership, headed by Xuan Wang, made a bold decision: to stop calling up naturalized players to the Chinese national team. This opened the door for a new generation of homegrown Chinese talent that had matured in the meantime.

The first real showcase of this new policy came during the Olympic qualifying tournament in Cardiff in February 2024. China’s young and inexperienced squad suffered two heavy defeats at the hands of Great Britain and Romania, but showed flashes of promise in their final game, defeating Serbia 7–5.

With virtually the same roster, China then competed at the Division IB World Championship in Vilnius, Lithuania. Right out of the gate, they stunned observers with dominant wins over the Netherlands and Spain. Finishing fourth overall – just one spot below their previous year’s result with naturalized players – was a major statement of progress.

Photo: Reprophoto/AsianGamesHub

The Asian Hornets Are on the Rise – and Bigger Challenges Lie Ahead

The upward trend continued for China’s revamped national team at the Asia Championship in November 2024, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

While the Chinese squad finished in fourth and last place, they managed to defeat South Korea for the first time in 18 years – a major milestone considering Korea had recently competed in the World Championship’s top division. Led by players like Pengfei Zhang, Zimeng Chen, Zesen Zhang, Jing Wang, and Yuyang Hou, the team also impressed with its overall style of play.

China’s steady rise was further confirmed just a few months later at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin in February 2025. Although they didn’t manage to win a game against the region’s top teams – Kazakhstan, Japan, and South Korea – they gave each opponent a tough battle and showed they could compete at a much higher level than before.

The Launch of a Professional Chinese League Marks Another Milestone

From the standpoint of Chinese hockey’s further development, an even more important milestone came with the launch of the professional Chinese Ice Hockey League (CIHL) on November 20, 2024 – shortly after the national team returned from the continental championship. The man who had the honor of ceremonially opening the league was none other than “Captain China” Brandon Yip. (6)

The league features four teams, each playing an 18-game regular season. It’s not much, but at long last, the foundation for professional hockey in China had been successfully laid.

Photo: icehockey.sport.org.cn

What Did Beijing 2022 Bring to Chinese Hockey?

To wrap up our series, let’s take a look at the overall significance of China’s participation in the men’s hockey tournament at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Throughout this series, we’ve revisited the critics’ main talking points – especially the claim that China, as a “non-hockey” country, took a spot that should’ve gone to a more traditional hockey nation. Much of the ridicule was aimed at China’s roster, with 60% of it made up of naturalized players.

Our goal, however, was to place the issue in proper context – to show that assembling a national team this way is hardly unprecedented in international hockey, and more importantly, to highlight the existence of a broader, systematic pre-Olympic development program that supported China’s preparation.

The truth is that, had it not been for the outbreak of an unforeseen global event – the COVID-19 pandemic – which severely disrupted and delayed the entire team-building process, we might have seen a very different Chinese roster at the Olympics.

We’ll never know exactly what that team would have looked like or which players might have made the cut. But one thing is clear: the domestic development program, if uninterrupted, could have paved the way for a much stronger homegrown presence. China would not have needed to lean so heavily on foreign-born reinforcements – a nuance that the vast majority of critics completely overlooked.

Of course, this isn’t to justify or defend the way China’s Olympic roster came together. Ideally, national teams should be built around players who were developed within the country’s own hockey system, with naturalization used sparingly and only in special circumstances. But in China’s case, strengthening the roster with imports wasn’t an end in itself – it was a strategic move aimed at supporting the broader development of Chinese hockey.

Photo: Reprophoto/AsianGamesHub

A Broader Economic and Historical Perspective

To better understand China’s approach, it’s important to consider the broader context. Similar patterns can be observed in China’s own economic development, where the country has never shied away from using foreign technologies and outside expertise to accelerate its growth. In recent decades, this has also included a significant influx of foreign capital.

From this perspective, the inclusion of foreign know-how and talent in Chinese hockey follows the same logic. In economics – and professional sports are no exception – the end often justifies the means.

Another compelling layer of context emerges when we zoom out even further and place the entire issue within a broader historical and international framework. Throughout history, the development of national economies has often relied on foreign labor. A prime example is the construction of Canada’s railroads in the 19th century – a massive undertaking powered in part by Chinese workers. Among them was the great-grandfather of Brandon Yip, a native of Guangzhou. (7, 8)

In a way, the circle has come full: generations later, a descendant of a Chinese laborer who helped build Canada’s infrastructure in sweat and blood returns to the land of his ancestors – this time to give back, using his hockey experience to contribute to China’s rapidly growing winter sports scene.

We don’t claim to have the answers. But one thing is clear: hockey – like any other sport – doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s shaped by cultural, economic, and historical forces that go far beyond the rink.

Hockey World, Beware – The Chinese Dragon Is Awakening!

Shortly after the Olympics, China moved away from importing foreign reinforcements for its national hockey team. Today, only Chinese-born players wear the jersey with “CHINA” across the chest.

The Olympic period – and the brief stretch that followed – marked a temporary chapter of widespread naturalization in what is shaping up to be just one short episode in the “Long March” of Chinese hockey toward the global elite. Hosting the world’s biggest sporting event gave Chinese hockey (and winter sports in general) a once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow. And that growth is no longer just a promise – it’s happening.

Beijing-born Hongtian “Kevin” He made history in 2024 by becoming the highest-drafted Chinese player in NHL history – and later that year, he became the first China-born skater ever to sign an NHL contract, joining the Winnipeg Jets. He was, however, surpassed by highly praised defenseman Haoxi “Simon” Wang, who went 33rd overall in the second round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. (Kevin He was taken in the fourth.)

Shortly after the Olympics, all of China’s national hockey teams began climbing the global rankings. The number of Chinese prospects playing overseas continues to grow, and the newly launched domestic pro league offers a promising platform for local talent to flourish. Perhaps most importantly, the country is investing heavily in infrastructure – new arenas are being built and youth hockey programs are expanding at a rapid pace.

All of this fits into a broader context: the Chinese government’s strategic goal of getting 300 million people involved in ice and snow sports by 2030, aiming to turn winter athletics into a thriving sector with long-term economic potential. (9)

Sources, Quotes and Notes:

1. timesunion.com/sports/article/Union-hockey-s-Foo-brothers-share-Olympic-dream-16844595.php
2. airdriecityview.com/airdrie-2022-beijing-winter-olympics/airdrie-hockey-alum-representing-china-at-2022-olympics-5032058
3. voanews.com/a/chinese-netizens-deliver-mostly-positive-verdict-on-china-s-foreign-origin-olympians/6447240.html
4. thechinaproject.com/podcast/olympian-rudi-ying-blows-the-lid-off-chinas-hockey-program/
5. m.dongqiudi.com/article/2590347.html
6. instagram.com/byipper/reel/DCl5EGmOqCW/
7. 52hrtt.com/cn/n/w/info/G1644905695414
8. wapbaike.baidu.com/tashuo/browse/content?id=08b8cb852908ec63d3376439
9. beijing.gov.cn/renwen/lsfm/202201/t20220107_2585062.html