KHL capitalizing on Beijing expansion

Beijing got an early Christmas present this week when the Russia-based Kontinental Hockey League confirmed the Chinese capital has been awarded an expansion franchise in the world's second largest professional circuit.

With its inaugural season set to open next September, the as-yet-unnamed Beijing team will play 30 home games at the 18,000-seat MasterCard Center, home of the China Basketball Association's Beijing Ducks.

The KHL, second only to North America's 30-team NHL, currently has 28 clubs in seven countries: Russia (22), Belarus, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Slovakia, Finland and Croatia (one each).

In a statement to the Tass news agency in Moscow, league deputy chairman Roman Rotenberg said the long-rumored expansion team is being financed by Russian and Chinese entrepreneurs, and the project includes establishing a training academy staffed by Russian coaches to develop Chinese players.

Looking to heighten the profile of winter sports ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the Chinese government is also supporting the venture, Rotenberg said.

The KHL plays a 60-game regular season. The league is divided into two conferences, each with two divisions, and non-Russian teams must have at least five players from their respective countries. The balance of the roster is comprised of foreign talent.

The announcement of the expansion franchise came the day after China's lone entry in Asia League Ice Hockey wrapped up a six-game stand at Capital Indoor Stadium, which drew enthusiastic crowds and live national coverage on CCTV5+.

China Dragon, which plays home games in Qiqihar, Beijing and Shanghai, is buried in last place in the seven-team AL, with just five wins in 36 games this season. Monday's 6-5 victory over the Tokyo-based Nikko IceBucks ended a 17-game winless streak for the Dragon under first-year Canadian head coach Jeff Hutchins.

"The product on the ice is not where I want it to be, but the fan support is terrific, and that bodes well for the future of pro hockey in China," said the 34-year-old Hutchins, who was born in Toronto and played minor pro in four North American loops before starring as player-coach of the Dundee Stars in the British Elite League.

"The biggest challenge for me is getting the message across in three different languages: Chinese, Japanese and English. Our roster is mostly Chinese, but we have six Japanese, a Canadian, an American and a Finn. Good thing we have translators! It's a nice mix of talent and enthusiasm, but there's a big difference in how they approach the game. In Canada, hockey culture is all about passion and intensity ... and those things can't be taught.

"One of the adjustments I've had to make is understanding how sensitive the Chinese players are. When I first started showing game videos at team meetings and pointing out mistakes, the Chinese took it very personally. They were embarrassed because they thought I was picking on them. I had to reassure them that everybody makes mistakes - that's part of hockey. The important thing is that we work together as a team to correct them.

"The competitive hockey mindset is still pretty new to the Chinese, but the players are putting in the effort and I see the improvement. My hope is that eventually they will consistently show the same level of intensity as our imports."

The team's leading scorer, Canadian forward Brett Parnham, echoed that sentiment.

A gifted skater with a bullet shot, the 26-year-old from Orillia, Ontario, is in his third season with the Dragon. He previously played pro in Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as in the American and East Coast leagues in North America.

"It's a work in progress, but I've definitely seen a big improvement since I came to China," Parnham said about the level of homegrown talent.

"The thing that's most impressive to me is how eager the Chinese are to learn and improve. When I first came here, my goal was to try to pass along some of the passion for hockey that we grow up with in Canada ... and that took awhile. But as we got more comfortable with each other, there was a definite change of attitude.

"We have some highly skilled Chinese players, especially in terms of skating, but things like shooting and positional play require more work. The great thing now is that they're not shy about asking for advice or putting in the extra work.

"The Chinese players are very receptive, which makes them great teammates. I'm happy to do anything I can to help them improve."

murraygreig@chinadaily.com.cn