Courtesy of Kevin McGran, Sports Reporter at the Toronto Star
Chinese hockey is trying something new, with an assist from the Leafs
Playing youth hockey in Canada, Steve Li was surrounded by talent destined for the NHL, such as former Don Mills Flyers teammates Shane Wright, Brandt Clarke and Brennan Othmann. But Li's path diverted.
Born in Beijing in 2003 and raised on hockey in Toronto, Li is on China's national men's hockey team, which has been touring Ontario and playing university clubs. Steven Li (pictured above in white) speaks fluent English and helps translate Canadian coaches' instructions to his teammates during practice.
The team also dropped in at Toronto's Ford Performance Centre this past week and took in a Maple Leafs practice.
"We've never really seen anything like this," Li said. "To be able to look at it, see how they practise at a different pace, their passing, how they talk on the ice. It definitely helps us, and kind of sets a goal for us to where we want to be in our practices."
The Chinese men are ranked 26th by the International Ice Hockey Federation (the women rank 12th) and the sport is beginning to find an audience after an appearance at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
"The fans are obviously still kind of confused about it. But once they see it, they're like: This is a great sport, fast-paced and all, with lots and lots of intensity," Li said.
The national team draws mostly from players born in the north. "We're just underneath Russia, so in wintertime it's freezing over there. We're talking about minus-40 and there's a bunch of lakes. So, guys usually just pop on some boots and then just go out and skate. And then, later on, they realize there's hockey ... That's where lots of guys pick up sticks and the puck and start moving around with it."
Li learned hockey in Canada, moving to Thornhill when he was eight.
"I really liked the chest protector," Li said. "I used to watch 'Power Rangers.' I thought hockey players looked like that. I was like, 'Mom, I want to get in this sport.' "
He played in the Greater Toronto Hockey League and won an OHL Cup with the minor-midget Flyers in 2019. Then it was off to the Ontario Junior Hockey League with stops in Aurora, Haliburton County, Brantford and Mississauga before playing at Stevenson University, an NCAA Division III school near Baltimore.
While Li, 21, is just starting in international hockey, defenceman Zimeng (Simon) Chen is mid-career.
The 27-year-old Chen, born in Beijing, played at U.S. prep schools before two years with the Cowichan Valley Capitals of the B.C. Hockey League. Now he's a star blueliner with the Beijing Lions at the top level in China, after a few years in Russia's KHL and VHL.
Chen and Li are benefiting from China's change of course in development. For the Beijing Olympics, China imported players such as Brandon Yip, who had Chinese heritage, or those with double passports. That policy has changed. Now the Chinese sports ministry only wants homegrown hockey talent, or nationalized citizens willing to give up other passports.
"We're focused entirely on having a local lineup," says Chen. "We're building the game because I believe it's good for the long term. You have to rely heavily on local players instead of foreigners."
The link between the Leafs and China's team is Perry Pearn, a 73-year-old from Stettler, Alta., who has been coaching worldwide since 1978. He was an assistant with the New York Rangers when he got to know current Leafs president Brendan Shanahan, and they stayed in touch. Pearn then coached in Japan and Italy before taking over the Chinese program.
"I enjoy the competitive side of it," Pearn said. "You get to travel a little bit and see places you wouldn't normally get to. It's been good from that perspective. It's a great reminder of how good Canada is, and how good home is."
According to the IIHF, China has about 10,000 registered players — the GTHL has about four times that — but the program is on solid ground, even though the men did not qualify for the 2026 Olympics in Italy.
"Clearly (Chinese officials) want to put their money into sports where they can win medals," Pearn said. "But they do want to grow hockey."
The men's team is using the five-game Ontario university tour to prepare for next month's Asian Winter Games against the likes of Kazakhstan, Japan and South Korea in Harbin, China. Those countries also played a round-robin tournament in the fall, after Pearn took over. China lost to Kazakhstan and Japan, but beat South Korea for the first time in 18 years.
"Judging by the reaction of the players and the staff, it was a pretty big deal," Pearn said.
"Their only exposure (to hockey) was playing in their own pro league. It's a far cry from what pro leagues are in most countries. A lot of players think that's the top of the mountain, so when they get exposed — like on this trip — and they see what other people are doing in hockey, it's a big eye-opener for them. That's the challenge, to bring them forward and make them understand the game a little bit better."
What they learned at the Leafs practice was informative. Leafs goalie Dennis Hildeby was on the ice a half-hour early, while teammates worked on their shooting and skating.
"Practice was at 11 (a.m.) but these guys were out on the ice at 10:30, putting in some extra work," Chen said. "And there's the little stuff ... (Our players) don't understand what it takes to play at a high level. To reach that higher level, you have to do the extra work."
Hockey is a full-time job for the players on China's team, but they are also expected to coach and help train newcomers.
"Some of the younger guys, they're not really as bought in or as focused," Chen said. "At practice, they try to slack off a little bit. It's understandable. (But) every practice, every second you step on the ice — it doesn't matter if it's in a game or a practice — it counts. You're working for yourself. You're working for your teammates."
Kevin McGran is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow him on Bluesky @kevinmcgran
