Beijing 2022: what can China’s men’s ice hockey team expect from NHL players in February? They line up against powerhouse Canadians, Americans and dark horse Germany
- The Chinese men’s ice hockey team are about to face off against a plethora of NHL stars in February including the world’s best player in Connor McDavid
- Little is known about the men’s team roster, but it is confirmed that players of Chinese nationality are currently on the KHL’s Kunlun Red Star squad
On February 10 at the Beijing National Indoor Stadium, China will begin their group stage play against the US, who are ranked fourth. They play fifth-ranked Germany two days later and the next day take on the world’s top team, Canada.
The Chinese Ice Hockey Association has so far failed to submit the names of three players confirmed for the tournament via the IIHF, unlike each of the other 11 teams taking part. Reports say the players suiting up for the squad are currently playing for Kunlun Red Star, a team in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League who are acting as a de facto China national team based out of Moscow.
The IIHF has expressed concerns over the team’s level of play though new president Luc Tardiff has previously said they will not pull the team from the tournament, however there are reports that is being reconsidered.
A few players appear to be shoo-ins for the squad, the first being Chinese-Canadian Brandon Yip. The 36-year-old, who was born in Vancouver, has 174 games of NHL experience, however the last time he suited up was during the 2013-14 season for the Arizona Coyotes.
Yip, a winger, will be one of the forwards tasked with trying to shut down generational talent Connor McDavid, who has already been named one of Canada’s three provisional players along with Sidney Crosby and Alex Pietrangelo. McDavid is widely regarded as the greatest player on the planet, and regularly scores highlight reel goals in which he undresses multiple NHL defenders and goalies.
Hongkonger Chris Ivany, who is originally from Canada and runs popular ice hockey podcast Across the Pond – which has interviewed multiple NHL players – said McDavid was going to be the centrepiece of a tournament loaded to the brim with NHL superstars.
NHL and China form unlikely alliance for Beijing 2022
“If you can figure out a way to slow down McDavid, then let the rest of the world know,” said Ivany, who is also a referee for the CIHL, Hong Kong’s only elite level men’s league. “This guy is on another level offensively and continues to make NHL players look pedestrian on a nightly basis. The only thing that seems to work against him is getting puck possession and not giving it up while he’s on the ice. Much easier said than done. Basically, they will have no chance of slowing him down.”
China will have to look to Yip, who is the team’s second leading scorer for the Red Star so far in the 2021-22 season, for leadership, along with Tyler Wong, who according to the KHL’s website, is listed as a Chinese player. Wong, 25, was born in Alberta, Canada and played 125 games in the American Hockey League, the main feeder league for the NHL. Wong was never drafted but played for the Las Vegas Golden Knights during a few preseason games in 2017.
Red Star’s leading scorer, Spencer Foo, was born in Edmonton, Canada and played four games in the NHL for the Calgary Flames, scoring two goals. The team also features Spencer’s younger brother Parker, who was also born in Edmonton and played three years of NCAA Division 1 hockey for Union College, which is based out of New York.
Yip, Wong and the Foo brothers will find themselves up against a new breed of defenceman: speedy, shifty puck-moving rearguards who have taken the NHL by storm the past few seasons. This is likely to include 23-year-old New York Rangers American defenceman Adam Fox, who is fresh off a Norris trophy win for the best defenceman in the league last season.
Joining Fox should be Vancouver Canucks defenceman Quinn Hughes on the US squad, who is 22. Fox and Hughes are known for the ability to play solid defence while also contributing offensively as well. Ivany said this will present a serious test for a squad who have no NHLers on its roster and are not used to the blazing speed of the league.
“This is going to be a huge task for the Chinese team. Playing a passive forecheck or some kind of neutral zone trap, means their opponents are likely to be able to attack with speed which I don’t think will go well for them. But on the other hand, if they try to forecheck too much, they’ll end up giving up way too many odd man rushes. My gut tells me that their best will be to play a 1-2-2 and hope their goalie has the game of his life, every game.”
Goaltending may be a serious issue for China. Red Star have two players of Chinese descent on its roster – Paris O’Brien and Han Pengfei – however there are reports that American-born goalie Jeremy Smith, who played 10 games in the NHL, has been naturalised to play for China. Neither O’Brien nor Penfei have played a game this season in the KHL, according to the team’s website.
On top of playing Canada and the US, China must try to shut down the NHL’s current leading scorer, Edmonton Oilers centre Leon Draisaitl, who will lead a dark horse German team into the Olympics. Red Star’s leading scorer when it comes to its defenceman is Jason Fram, who is of Chinese descent and is averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time a game. Fram, 26, was born in Vancouver, played two games in the AHL and will be one of the defenceman tasked with trying to shut down a white hot Draisaitl, said Ivany.
“Germany will definitely be looking to keep up with the US and Canada when it comes to how badly they beat China. Germany is never an easy game in international hockey and should never be overlooked. Draisaitl is on an incredible goalscoring pace right now and I would expect him to continue that in the Olympics.”
Ivany said this was all bad news for a Chinese team who are clearly out of their depth, heading into a tournament where goal differential will determine seeding heading into the play-offs if teams are tied.
“I honestly don’t think there is anything they can do to prevent being badly beaten. Their division is insanely tough and no one will be letting up at the Olympics. Their opening game is against the US and I think this game will determine how high the scores will be from there.”
