Given the recent hype about the Olympics and the Canucks playing a pair of games in China, it’s ironic timing that the Team China Women’s Team is set to play an exhibition game marked as East vs. West.
September 27th marks the first meeting that will see the Thunderbirds face-off against the Chinese Women’s National Ice Hockey Team, better known as Team China.
The two Chinese expansion entries in the CWHL (Canadian Women’s Hockey League), the Kunlun Red Star and the Vanke Rays.
Tue, Sep 26 @ 7:00 PM – CWHL’s Kunlun Red Star vs. UBC (Father Bauer Arena)
Wed, Sep 27 @ 7:00 PM – Team China vs. UBC (Father Bauer Arena)
Mon, Oct 2 @ 7:00 PM – CWHL’s Vanke Rays vs. UBC (Thunderbird Arena)
The Chinese CWHL teams lists an impressive roster of (former) Team Canada and Team USA players, in addition to former stars from the NCAA.
The Kunlun Red Star is backstopped by Finnish goalie Noora Räty helped Team Finland to the Bronze Medal at the 2010 Olympics that saw several games played at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.
She is better known as a five-time World Champion with Team USA, Kelli Stack, was part of the American squad that won Silver at the 2010 Olympics and signed with the Red Star this past summer.
Team China are lead by veteran player and team captain Yu Baiwei, who also played for China at the 2010 Olympics.
The three-games follow the lead of the successful Thunderbirds vs. Team China game held in October of 2016 that was well attended which the Thunderbirds won 4-1.
The Coaching staff from Team China will have a particular interest in the Thunderbirds’ 2017 line-up, that will see UBC dress four (4) players who are eligible to represent China in international play, namely – Emily Costales, Tiffany Chiu, Jenna Fletcher and Shiayli Toni.
The four players have the opportunity to practice and possibly scrimmage with Team China during their visit to Vancouver.
With Beijing hosting the Winter Olympics in 2022 there is no shortage of demand for skilled, eligible players to enter into the Chinese program.
“Growing up you often think the dream would be to play for Canada,” said third-year forward Toni who recorded two assists in UBC’s 4-1 victory in 2016. “Then you realize there could be an opportunity to play for a team that represents your family’s heritage.”
Fletcher, who had drawn the eye of the Chinese national program before she had even played with the Thunderbirds, is also relishing the opportunity.
“It’s very exciting,” said the UBC freshman. “To get a chance to play hockey at the international level is something we all think about growing up.”
A UBC red shirt in 2016-17, Tiffany Chiu suited up for the Thunderbirds in last year’s Team China game and even went on to score a shootout goal in the T-Birds’ win.
“It’s going to be good to get another chance to play in an event like this,” explained Chiu. “I felt a little overwhelmed last year as I was still a red-shirt. This year I know more of what to expect and it will help my performance.”
The off-season saw UBC acquire (after transferring from Syracuse University) Costales who has already attended a Team China identification camp in Toronto during the summer.
“It’s nice to see the sport growing in my family’s homeland,” said Costales. “Growing up, there were not a large amount of Asians involved in hockey. It was a cool feeling to be on the ice with so many other players of Asian descent.”
More information about the games will become available on GoThunderbirds.ca in the coming days.
The T-Birds’ Canada West season opener goes October 6 at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre against Manitoba.
Special “Thanks” to Len Catling, Sr. Manager, Communications and Media Relations at UBC for the info.
