MYTISHCHI, Russia: The players hoping to make Chinas mens hockey team for next years Beijing Olympics lost a second trial game against a Russian club on Wednesday as uncertainty builds over whether they will be allowed to play at the Winter Games.
International Ice Hockey Federation officials observed Kunlun Red Stars 4-1 loss to Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League. The Chinese teams 5-4 overtime loss to Amur Khabarovsk in another KHL game two days earlier was also used to assess the competitive strength of the team. Kunlun has a 7-22 record in the Russia-based league.
China is using Kunlun as a proxy for the national team. Most of the roster consists of North American-born players who league records list as having taken Chinese nationality. More players could be naturalized in time for the Olympics.
Avangard had 35 shots on goal while Kunlun had 14, but the score was only 2-1 with four minutes remaining. Former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jake Chelios son of NHL great Chris Chelios scored Kunluns only goal.
China has never previously competed in a mens Olympic hockey tournament. It most recently played in the fourth-highest division of the IIHF world championships in 2019, before it naturalized foreign-born players.
The IIHF has acknowledged concerns about Chinas competitiveness but president Luc Tardif said this month the federation would not remove the team from the Olympics. Tardif appeared to change his stance Tuesday, telling reporters in Canada that the IIHF and International Olympic Committee would decide next week whether China could play and that Norways team could step in as a replacement.
Its unclear how many foreign-born players could represent China. The IIHF has refused to say which Kunlun players are eligible Chelios, for example, is listed as a U.S. player in KHL records and Tardif has said the IIHF needs to confirm player eligibility.
Kunlun coach Ivano Zanatta, who has experience at the Olympics as a Canada-born player for Italy, has said his players will struggle to keep the score down in Beijing.
For me, its pretty easy, having lived the experience of the heritage player with the Italian national team. We basically circled the wagons and we held solid defense and that has to be the attitude, Zanatta said Monday. Lets face it, were playing Canada, USA. Were not looking at anything other than, you know, youve got to be able to compete, stay with them.
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