ASIAN ICE HOCKEY

Led by veteran Canadian coach Perry Pearn, the Chinese team landed in Edmonton on January 12 and headed back home on February 7 after nearly a month on the road. The tour was made possible largely through Pearn’s Canadian ties – he launched his coaching career in ACAC, spending 15 seasons behind the bench.

Tested by U Sports and ACAC Programs

China targeted opponents of comparable quality to properly gauge its level ahead of the season’s main objective – the IIHF World Championship Division 1B in Shenzhen. The tour opened against the U Sports program MacEwan Griffins before continuing with eight additional matchups against ACAC teams.

Canadian Tour as a Strategic Tune-Up for Division 1B in Shenzhen

The Canadian tour was a deliberate part of China’s preparation for the World Championship Division 1B in Shenzhen. Perry Pearn leaned on his deep knowledge of Canadian university hockey to line up opponents in the same competitive range – teams whose level closely mirrors Division 1B standards. With tightly contested games expected at the season’s peak, where margins are razor-thin and details decide outcomes, this type of structured but demanding competition is crucial at this stage of the campaign.

Tengjun “Alex” Tian, General Manager of China’s national team, emphasized the developmental value of the tour: (1)

Head coach Perry Pearn echoed that sentiment, underlining the importance of individual player development: (2)

Photo: James Maclennan / For the MacEwan Griffins

CIHL Core Anchors the Roster

China traveled to Canada with a 25-man roster averaging 22.36 years of age, heavily built around reigning CIHL champions Beijing Lions, who supplied 12 players. KRS Shenzhen and Anhui Xinhua contributed five players each.

Two North America-based skaters – Shifeng Chen (Boston Jr. Rangers, NCDC) and Yixiang Huang (Devon Xtreme, AJHL) – were also included in the squad. However, neither of them stayed for the entire tour. Chen remained with the team until January 18, appearing in two games, while Huang featured in three matchups before returning to his club.

Several key national team regulars were absent from this trip, including the Stars Kobe (ALIH) duo Yuyang Hou and Jing Wang, as well as Juncheng Yan, who currently competes in U Sports. A handful of other players developing in Canada and the United States were also not part of the roster.

Window for the Next Generation

The tour also opened the door for several 18-year-old prospects to gain their first taste of senior national team hockey. Among them were 205 cm defenseman Jialin Jin of Anhui Xinhua, his club teammate Wenhan Jiang, and 110 kg Beijing Lions forward Rongji Zhao. Eighteen-year-old goaltender Yinghao Tang (Anhui Xinhua) was also part of the squad – while he did not see game action in Canada, he was able to experience the senior team environment for the first time.

Another opportunity to gather experience went to Peng Sun (KRS Shenzhen) and Sixiong Jiang (Beijing Lions), both of whom made their senior debut at the 2026 IIHF Asia Championship.

The youthful roster, reinforced by multiple newcomers, clearly reflects Pearn’s long-term approach of gradually integrating promising talents who progressed through the U18 and U20 ranks. Continuity within the program is further underlined by the fact that Perry Pearn now also coaches the U20 national team – at the most recent U20 World Championship Division 2A, six players impressed him enough to earn a call-up for the Canadian tour.

One noticeable pattern also emerges: nearly all of the debutants bring above-average size and physical presence, signaling Pearn’s intent to add more strength and mass to the roster moving forward.

Photo: James Maclennan / For the MacEwan Griffins

Stability Within the Roster

The rest of the squad was built around a familiar group that, despite its relative youth, has accumulated valuable experience over the past three seasons – the period following China’s shift away from naturalized players. The oldest players on the roster were Zesen Zhang (29), Zimeng Chen (28), Jiaqi Zhang (28), and Pengfei Zhang (27), the only members above the age of 25.

Overall Record: Four Wins, Five Losses

China opened the tour against its toughest opponent – the U Sports program MacEwan Griffins. Although the quality of the top-tier Canadian university side ultimately showed, the Chinese team has little reason to be discouraged by the performance, falling 6–4 in a competitive contest.

Facing a U Sports opponent proved to be a valuable learning experience for many of the younger CIHL players. They were forced to adjust to a different style and pace of play, and while mistakes were inevitable, the matchup ultimately delivered meaningful experience that should benefit the group moving forward.

Perry Pearn: (3)

In the remaining matchups against ACAC programs, the balance was far more even – China finished that stretch with four wins and four losses. Encouragingly, the team closed out the tour on a high note, defeating Concordia Thunder 7–4 to build momentum ahead of the season’s main objective. Most of the roster now turns its focus to the CIHL playoffs before reconvening in April for a national team camp in preparation for the World Championship.

Mingju Zheng on Fire: CIHL’s Top Scorer Delivers in Canada

Mingju Zheng (23) emerged as China’s standout performer on the tour. The current leading scorer in the CIHL recorded eight goals and six assists in nine games, continuing his strong domestic form on Canadian ice. He was closely followed by Zesen Zhang (29), who posted eight points (3+5).

Photo: James Maclennan / For the MacEwan Griffins

Additional offensive support came from six-point contributors Jianing Guo (25), Zihao Liu (20), and Ruinan Yan (25). Notably, Yan has recently been deployed as a forward – both with the national team and in the CIHL – despite previously being used as a defenseman. A similar positional shift applies to Lang Xu (21), who has also transitioned into a forward role.

Continuing the Tradition – First Contact Dates Back to the 1970s

China has built a fairly extensive history of exhibition games against North American university programs. Beyond the competitive aspect, these matchups have also carried a layer of cultural exchange. The first notable instance dates back to 1973, when the University of British Columbia visited Beijing and played two exhibition games.

During the 1980s – often regarded as a golden era for Chinese hockey – the national team made several trips overseas. In 1982, China played four games against U.S. university teams in Battle Creek, followed by two more matchups in Boston in 1986.

The tradition of university exhibitions was revived by Perry Pearn in January 2025, when China faced four programs from U Sports and NCAA Division III during a Canadian tour. Those opponents ultimately proved too strong for the Chinese side (2–4, 0–5, 1–6, 1–5), which likely influenced this year’s decision to prioritize ACAC teams instead.

What Are the Nicknames of China’s Hockey Players?

To wrap up our article, here’s a bonus. For English-speaking audiences, Chinese names – and Asian names in general – can sometimes be challenging to pronounce or remember. As a result, it has become common practice, even in hockey circles, for players to adopt English names. These names have even appeared in official game sheets involving the Chinese national team.

So what English nicknames do members of China’s national squad go by?

Special thanks to ACAC, Briercrest College, U Sports, and MacEwan University, and especially to Jefferson Hagen, Joy Foreman, and Anthony Wong, for providing game materials and support for this article.

Sources, Quotes and Notes:

1. rmoutlook.com/hockey-in-alberta/chinese-mens-national-hockey-team-coming-to-lac-la-biche-11746078
2. rmoutlook.com/hockey-in-alberta/chinese-mens-national-hockey-team-coming-to-lac-la-biche-11746078
3. macewangriffins.ca/sports/mice/2025-26/releases/202601151msn41