Beyond Exhibition Games, China’s Olympic Ice Hockey Participation Uncertain

There have been stories to follow in regards to the upcoming winter Olympics in Beijing – the most followed one? Will the NHL attend. The second story that has been discussed at length – at least in Europe, has been whether or not the Chinese men’s national team will be allowed to ice their team at the tournament.

While under the helm of Rene Fasel a decision was made – The IIHF will allow the Chinese national team to play at the ice hockey tournament but then things took a turn once his term as a president had ended. Newly elected Luc Tardif was quick to say that they will have to re-evaluate the decision.

‘’The Chinese national team will have exhibition games that will be overseen by an IIHF representative and after that, a decision will be made. To see them lose 0:15 isn’t any good for China or hockey in general,’’ Tardif had said after being elected. ‘’If China won’t play we need a plan B which will be taken care of using the IIHF ranking,’’ Tardif started letting people understand that it’s likely that team Norway would replace the host side at the men’s tournament.”

It’s now been revealed that the games of importance will be played on November 15th and 17th. The IIHF and Chinese hockey federation have been working together so that those two games could be played given how the Chinese national team hasn’t played since 2019. Kun Lun Red Star – the lone Chinese representing the team in KHL has been the base and development tool for their national squad and now the Olympic candidates will dress their squad under their name in order to play said exhibition games.

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Kun Lun Red Star’s visual appearance but the roster will consist of Chinese Olympians in games against Barys Nur-Sultan and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl squads.

This plan won’t change in regards to them playing but just yesterday after the meeting with the new IIHF council the importance of both exhibition matches apparently has changed.

”Just to be clear – The IIHF doesn’t intend to prohibit the Chinese team from playing at the Olympics. The men’s side’s participation as a host country was accepted in the congress. Nothing has changed. We are working together with the representatives of Chinese hockey so that their players would be eligible to fulfill the requirements of eligibility. We will continue to help with their preparation.”

This story is surely still developing and in no shape or form, this is the end of it. Will China play? Won’t they? Who knows but we’re a few weeks away from finding that out.

Olympic Games in Beijing will happen from the 4th of February until the 20th of 2022.