From Making History in the KHL to Shaping the Future of Chinese Hockey
Zehao Sun, the longtime goaltender for China’s national team and the first Chinese netminder in KHL history, is hanging up his pads surprisingly early – before even turning 30. Yet in that short span, he achieved what many only dream of. Now, he’s set on passing his wealth of experience to the next generations of Chinese hockey.
It’s worth noting that China’s hockey system has its own unique traits compared to what we know in Europe or North America. National team players there are full-time employees of the Chinese Ice Hockey Association, and they’re expected to take part in youth training and mentor younger players (as seen here).
A Direct Path from the Crease to the Coach’s Bench
It’s quite possible that Sun’s past interactions with young kids simply pulled him toward the coaching path. While his retirement will no doubt cause headaches for the coaches of China’s national team – who until now could rely on the well-synced goalie tandem of Zehao Sun and Shifeng Chen – it’s ultimately great news for Chinese hockey when former standouts transition seamlessly into coaching, aiming to shape the talent of the future.
Another example is Cory Kane, a.k.a. An Jian, an Olympian at Beijing 2022, who stepped behind the bench as an assistant coach for China’s U18 squad after hanging up his skates.
Harbin Roots and the Tough Early Days of Chinese Hockey
Born on December 13, 1995, in Harbin – a city long considered one of Chinese hockey’s strongholds – Sun could be seen as something of a witness to history. He lived through an era when Chinese hockey was clawing its way up from rock bottom. At both the U18 and U20 levels, he played in Division 3, and even got a taste of the ALIH with China Dragon – a team that, at the time, served as the league’s punching bag.
Breaking Into the Senior Ranks
Sun made his senior national team debut at just 20 years old, suiting up for the World Championship Division 2A in Jaca, Spain. A year later, he was between the pipes at the Asian Winter Games and earned significantly more ice time at the Division 2B Worlds.
Olympic Preparations Kick Into Gear
By then, Olympic preparations were already in full swing – in July 2015, the IOC awarded the Winter Games to Beijing at its session in Kuala Lumpur, prompting China’s sports leadership to roll up its sleeves and turn attention to the long-overlooked sport of hockey. The young netminder from Harbin soon found himself on their radar, earning a spot in the Russian branch of the Olympic team’s buildup program.
A Rare NHL Opportunity
Before that, Sun got a rare break from the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL, who were set to take part in the NHL China Games at the start of the 2017–18 season. The team invited two Chinese players to join their training camp – and along with Zimeng Chen, they chose Sun. He even signed an amateur tryout contract with the club. While it was, of course, more of a promotional move by the NHL franchise, the chance to practice alongside NHL stars meant a great deal to both players.(2)
From VHL Prep to a KHL Call-Up
Once the season was in full swing, Sun joined VHL side KRS Heilongjiang, where he trained with the team but didn’t see game action. A year later, he made the jump straight to the KHL, suiting up for two games with Kunlun Red Star.
Making KHL History
On January 17, 2019, Zehao Sun etched his name in Chinese hockey history. With Kunlun Red Star struggling against Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, head coach Curt Fraser pulled Finnish netminder Tomi Karhunen and sent the 23-year-old Chinese goalie into the crease. Sun rewarded that trust with a steady performance, stopping 13 of 15 shots.(3)
While he couldn’t prevent a 5–1 loss, he became the first goaltender born in China ever to play in the KHL. He wouldn’t see a fellow countryman follow in his footsteps until nearly three years later, when Pengfei Han got the call between the pipes.
Before the Pandemic Hit
Before the COVID-19 pandemic shut things down, Sun managed to log a few more games with KRS-BSU Beijing in Russia’s second-tier VHL. But the pandemic threw a wrench into both China’s promising buildup for its home Olympics and Sun’s own career – he wouldn’t see action at the top level for the next two years.
Out of the Olympic Picture, Then Back in the Mix
In a somewhat surprising move, China’s Olympic team coaches left Sun off the roster for the 2022 Games, and he was absent from Kunlun’s lineup that season as well – the Olympic goalie trio consisted of Jeremy Smith, Paris O’Brien, and Pengfei Han.
The very next season, however, Sun saw significant action, appearing in 10 KHL games. After four years away, he also returned to the national team, serving as backup to Paris O’Brien – a.k.a. Yongli Ouban – at the 2023 World Championship Division 1B. There, he celebrated a bronze medal, earned by a China squad still built around heritage players led by Brandon Yip.
From One Era to the Next
Sun’s career unfolded against the backdrop of shifting eras in Chinese hockey, and he was there to witness them all. Most recently came the post-Olympic rise of a promising young generation built around players like Youyang Hou and Jing Wang. At the Olympic Qualification tournament in Cardiff, he was briefly China’s starting goalie, but it wasn’t long before he ceded the crease to up-and-coming netminder Shifeng Chen.
Where One Chapter Ends, Another Begins
In hockey, as in life, endings and beginnings often intertwine – sometimes even blending into a single, harmonious chapter. Zehao Sun played his final season with the Beijing Lions, becoming part of a historic moment: the inaugural campaign of the professional Chinese Ice Hockey League (CIHL).
Before helping the team capture the league’s first championship, he also had a proper send-off with the national team, appearing in one game at the 2025 IIHF Asia Championship and three at the 2025 Asian Winter Games. Fittingly, it was at the Asian Winter Games that the circle came full – the tournament was held in his hometown of Harbin.
A Farewell Post and a Fast Start in Coaching
Sun officially said goodbye to his playing career on March 16, 2025, through a post on his account on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu (also known as Red Note) – we bring you the full text of that post below.
From his recent updates, however, it’s clear that Sun – hugely popular among fans and within China’s hockey community – has jumped into his new role with both feet. By June 2025, he was already in Thailand taking part in the IIHF’s Asia Goalkeeper Coaching Program, with another set for November in Chinese Taipei with Sun on board.
Zehao Sun’s Farewell to His Playing Career – Posted on Xiaohongshu, March 16, 2025
We’ve just successfully wrapped up our journey through the Chinese Men’s Professional Hockey League and the Asian Winter Games, once again proving our dedication and perseverance.
As the first Chinese-born player to compete in the KHL, I’ve gained countless invaluable experiences from these games. My professional career has been filled with both challenges and moments of pride – and I have no regrets.Whether it was the fierce battles at the Asian Winter Games or the high-level competition of the KHL, each and every game has deepened my love for the sport of hockey. There’s no single definition of a “peak” moment, but this passion and dream have never faded.
Now, I’m officially closing this chapter of my playing career and getting ready to begin a brand-new one! Next up, I plan to transition into coaching, passing on my experience and passion for the game to the next generation of young athletes. If you know a child with a love for hockey, I’d love to have them join me on this new journey! I look forward to witnessing their growth and breakthroughs together on the ice.(4)
| ZEHAO SUN FOR TEAM CHINA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Event | GP | GAA | SVS% |
| 2013 WC-18 D3A in Taipei City | 4 | 0.85 | 96.3 |
| 2015 WC-20 D3 in Dunedin | 2 | 1.00 | 87.5 |
| 2016 WC D2A in Jaca | 2 | 6.32 | 87.3 |
| 2017 AWG in Sapporo | 3 | 10.47 | 84.3 |
| 2017 WC D2B in Auckland | 5 | 2.40 | 91.9 |
| 2018 WC D2A in Tilburg | 5 | 3.03 | 91.3 |
| 2019 WC D2A in Belgrade | 3 | 3.33 | 92.1 |
| 2023 WC D1B in Tallinn | 2 | 4.54 | 81.8 |
| 2024 OGQ in Cardiff | 3 | 7.00 | 80.0 |
| 2024 WC D1B in Vilnius | 0 | – | – |
| 2025 AC in Astana | 1 | 6.00 | 87.2 |
| 2025 AWG in Harbin | 3 | 2.67 | 89.2 |
| HIGHLIGHTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥉Bronze medal at the 2023 IIHF World Championship Div 1B | |||
| ⭐12 games in the KHL | |||
| 🔥First Chinese goalie in the KHL | |||
| ✅NHL tryout contract | |||
| 🏆CIHL champion with the Beijing Lions in 2025 |
Sources, Quotes and Notes:
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