Blades Clash at the Start of Spring China Men’s National Ice Hockey Team Concludes North America Tour in the “City of Champions”
- overseascd
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
【CMHnews Post】EDMONTON — On February 5, just after the start of spring, Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, enjoyed clear skies as snow quietly melted under the warm sunshine. In this city renowned as the “City of Champions,” a sacred land for ice hockey, the Chinese Men’s National Ice Hockey Team played the final game of its North American Exhibition Tour at Clareview Arena. With solid defense and efficient offense, Team China defeated the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder, a powerhouse in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC), by a score of 7–4, bringing a successful close to its nearly month-long training and competition tour.
Reported by Lynn Wang
Feb 5th， 2026
A Symphony on Ice: Diplomacy Meets Culture
Before the game, the atmosphere in the arena was festive and filled with a strong sense of Chinese cultural presence. Zhao Liying, Consul General of China in Calgary, and Tim Loreman, President of Concordia University of Edmonton, jointly presided over the ceremonial puck drop. Wearing a hockey jersey, Consul General Zhao watched the entire game, demonstrating strong support for sports while conveying the warmth of China–Canada friendship.
To celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year, staff from the Chinese Consulate organized traditional cultural activities on site, including a lion dance, calligraphy of Spring Festival couplets, and the distribution of “Fu” (good fortune) characters. In the stands, local community leaders such as Meilan Hung, Kim Sen Mah, and Ma Junqiang waved both Chinese and Canadian flags, cheering enthusiastically alongside the audience.
China Central Television (CCTV) provided full coverage of the match, capturing these vivid moments of cultural exchange.
Comeback and Breakthrough: A Dramatic Match
The game unfolded with twists and turns. In the first period, the home team Thunder struck first and scored the opening goal. However, Team China remained composed. In the second period, the Chinese players surged forward, scoring four goals in a single period to take the lead. By the start of the third period, China was ahead 6–4. Although Thunder attempted a comeback in the final period, Team China held firm with resilient defense and ultimately sealed the victory at 7–4.
A Legendary Coach Returns Home: Perry Pearn’s “Home Strategy”
The tour was led by head coach Perry Pearn, a native Albertan and a legendary figure in Edmonton’s hockey community. Pearn previously coached the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) hockey team and won the ACAC championship six times.
Returning to his home ground, Pearn skillfully leveraged his local connections and adopted a “Bye Weekend” strategy to arrange nine high-intensity matches for Team China, including games against NAIT, University of Alberta Augustana, Portage College, Briercrest College, and Concordia University of Edmonton.
In a post-game interview, Pearn spoke candidly, noting that domestic leagues tend to be relatively “softer” in playing style, while the ACAC offers physical intensity closer to the level of the World Championships.
“We must learn to become a better defensive team and be able to compete one on-one physically against stronger opponents,” Pearn said.
He emphasized that stepping out of their comfort zone was particularly crucial for the growth of the five U20 players on the roster.
Captain’s Voice: Taking Home the Toughest Lessons
Team China’s captain, J.Q. (Jacky) Zhang, a No. 6 defenseman, spoke to reporters after the game. His face showed clear signs of fatigue, yet his eyes remained firm and focused. As he spoke, his missing front tooth — a classic “hockey smile”, often seen as a badge of honor among players — was especially noticeable.
“Canada is a powerhouse in ice hockey. We came here with a learning mindset,” Zhang said modestly.
He pointed out that compared with North America, domestic leagues still lag behind in terms of physical contact, passing speed, and tactical execution, and that these high-intensity games were the most valuable gains of the tour. At the end of the interview, he also sent Lunar New Year greetings to Chinese communities across Canada: “Happy New Year to everyone!”
Side Story: Medal-like Scars — The Reality of the “Chasers”
In a close-up post-game interview with Captain Zhang Jiaqi, the first thing that stood out was his young yet “battle-worn” face: sweat still on his forehead, visible cuts at the corners of his mouth, and the missing tooth revealed when he spoke. In ice hockey — one of the most physically demanding sports in the world — these injuries are the tangible marks left by repeated body checks, blocks, and scrambles.
At present, Chinese ice hockey has not yet joined the ranks of the world’s elite and remains in a stage of long-term development and exploration. Facing ACAC teams known for their physical strength and rich competitive experience, Team China was clearly the challenger and the pursuer on the ice.
As an observer, watching him calmly summarize the game despite his injuries inevitably brought a sense of sympathy, but even more so, a deep sense of pride. This pride did not stem from the scoreline, but from the resilience, positivity, and determination shown by these young players on their long journey of catching up. For overseas Chinese like myself, this feeling was particularly profound.
In this season of melting snow and the beginning of spring, the warm sunshine of Edmonton witnessed Team China’s final charge in the “City of Champions.” The sweat dripping onto the ice, the wounds yet to heal, and the missing tooth together form the true colors of Chinese ice hockey’s journey as a chaser. The road ahead is long, but in the gentle warmth of early spring, hope is quietly gathering strength.
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