China national para ice hockey team

The China national para ice hockey team (simplified Chinese: 中国残奥冰球队; traditional Chinese: 中國殘奥冰球隊; pinyin: Zhōngguó cánaò bīngqiú duì, recognized as China), established in 2017, represents the People's Republic of China in international sledge hockey competitions and is governed by the Winter Sports Management Center of the State Sports General Administration of China (国家体育总局冬季运动管理中心).

China
Head coachYin Jiwu (2023-)
Nikolay Sharshukov (2017-2022) [1]
AssistantsZhang Lei
CaptainCui Yutao[2]
Home stadiumQingdao Sports Centre Conson Gymnasium
IIHF codeCHN
First international
2017 Worlds
Biggest win
 China 40–0  Australia
(Ostrava, Czech Republic; 7 November 2018)
Biggest defeat
 China 0–11  USA
(Beijing, China; 11 March 2022)
World Para Ice Hockey Championships
Appearances3 (first in 2017)
Best result2021
Paralympics
Appearances1 (first in 2022)
Medals Bronze: (2022)
Medal record
Paralympic Games
Bronze medal – third place2022 BeijingTeam
World Championship
Gold medal – first place2018 Vierumaki (Pool C)Team
Gold medal – first place2021 Czech Republic (Pool B)Team
Bronze medal – third place2019 Czech Republic (Pool B)Team

History

The national para ice hockey team was established in September, 2017 by the China Disabled Persons' Federation, Qingdao Municipal People's Government, Shandong Disabled Persons' Federation in Qingdao, Shandong province.[3]

Competitive results

Para-ice hockey world championships

In 2018, after roughly 1 year of establishment and playing 2 official international matches, the para ice hockey team debuted in Pool C and stormed Australia by a 40:0, which is the team's biggest victory in a match. In the gold medal match, China beat hosts Finland 5:0, successfully proceed to Pool B in the 2019 edition.[4]

In 2019, the para ice hockey team competed in Pool B of the 2019 World Para Ice Hockey Championships, winning the bronze medal after winning Germany 4:1, Poland 17:0, Great Britain 17:0; and losing to Slovakia 1:2, Russia 1:3.

In 2021, the para ice hockey team continued to compete in Pool B of the 2021 World Para Ice Hockey Championships, winning the gold medal and proceed to Pool A of the championships after winning Poland 18:0, Finland 12:0; Japan 15:0, Sweden 6:0 and Germany 10:2.

In 2023, the para ice hockey debut in Pool A of the 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championships. The team was warmly greeted and welcomed by a 20-car fleet organized by the local Chinese community, mostly Richmond residents at the Vancouver International Airport.[5] Meanwhile after arriving at Regina, the team was also warmly welcomed by Canadian Chinese residents, where traditional lion dance is performed.[6] The team crushed Italy 10:1 and beat traditional powerhouse Norway 5:1 and Germany 7:0 in the preliminary rounds.[7] In the quarterfinals, the team beat the experienced South Korean team by 7:2, proceeding to semi-finals and will be facing traditional powerhouse USA. After losing to U.S by 2:10, the team fought against European powerhouse the Czech Republic, eventually losing by 2:3, getting the fourth place in the championships.

Paralympics Games

In 2022, which is China's home winter Paralympics games and the team's first appearance at the games, the national ice sledge hockey team won a historic bronze after defeating South Korea 4–0. It is considered a remarkable achievement, as the ice hockey team was established in 2017 and had achieved huge progress in the past 5 years.[8]

Team members

  • Bai Xuesong
  • Che Heng
  • Cui Yutao
  • Hu Guangjian
  • Ji Yanzhao
  • Li Hongguan
  • Lyu Zhi
  • Shen Yifeng
  • Song Xiaodong
  • Tian Jintao
  • Wang Jujiang
  • Wang Wei
  • Wang Zhidong
  • Xu Jinqiang
  • Yu Jing (Female)
  • Zhang Zheng
  • Zhu Zhanfu

Honor

  • Outstanding contributors to the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics (Chinese: 北京冬奥会、冬残奥会突出贡献集体) (2022)

References

  1. Waldstein, David (10 March 2022). "Coached by an Enigmatic Russian, China Emerges as a Sled Hockey Power". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  2. Lieberman, Stuart. "Yutao Cui wants Beijing 2022 to leave winter sports legacy". Paralympics. World Para Ice Hockey. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  3. "The "Qingdao Love" of the Chinese Paralympic Ice Hockey Team: Half of the players are from Qingdao! Reporter documented training life of the players for four years (中国残奥会冰球队的"青岛情缘":一半队员来自青岛!半岛记者历时四年记录队员训练和生活)". Peninsula Dushibao (Metropolis Daily) (半島都市報). 21 February 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  4. "Vierumaki 2018: China win C-Pool Worlds". Paralympics. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  5. Xiong, Daisy (25 May 2023). "Photos: Richmond residents form 20-car fleet to welcome Chinese para hockey team". Richmond news. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  6. "Team China arrives for para ice hockey". CTV News Regina. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  7. "Moose Jaw 2023: Winning starts for Czechia, China and Germany". Paralympic. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  8. "China's success story has Yifeng Shen's fingerprints all over it". Paralympics. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
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