The Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey Association (SCMHA) will host a group of youth hockey players from Qiqihar, China in February in the first exchange program between China and Canada to be officially sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation, Hockey Canada and BC Hockey.
U12 players from the Qiqihar Hockey Program were invited by Hockey Canada and BC Hockey and will participate in a “cultural and sport exchange” in Sechelt, according to an invitation letter penned by Tom Renney, CEO of Hockey Canada.
“It’s bigger than just ourselves. We’re a small piece of the larger hockey family. For us, it’s just an incredible opportunity to have a cultural experience on and off the ice,” said Brenda Rowe, president of Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey (SCMH). “We want to say hockey is the international language.”
From Feb. 2 to 5, about 30 Sunshine Coast players and 25 Qiqihar players will attend practice together and will be divided into teams comprising players from both countries to play in the inaugural Canada-China Youth Hockey Invitational Tournament. SCMH players were given special exemptions to play on the teams created specifically for the tournament.
The event is organized by the 2022 Group, a private B.C. company. Its CEO is John Furlong, former president and CEO of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee. The company engages in “promoting Canadian winter sports and exporting knowledge-based Canadian expertise services and solutions … to countries aspiring to be strong in winter sports,” said Vernon Hu, vice president, corporate development at Group 2022 and coordinator of the event.
The name of the company refers to the 2022 Winter Olympics, which will be hosted by Beijing. Since winning the Olympic bid, the Chinese government has encouraged the participation of 300 million people in winter sports. Hu says among those sports, hockey is the most popular.
“The local governments have policy support and fiscal support in place to encourage, especially the young population, the school kids to take up the sport and also develop systems to create talent, so in the long term, they expect to achieve sustainable success,” said Hu.
The Sunshine Coast was chosen as the host community for the inaugural tournament in part because of Hu’s familiarity with the area. “I’ve been a resident of Gibsons for three years. I love the coastal lifestyle here and it’s a wonderful city, beautiful scenery, friendly people. Also in terms of hockey, we have modern facilities, and a very good hockey culture.”
Qiqihar is located in northeastern China, which has cold winters, and is a hockey hotbed. Hu says the municipal government has been very supportive and “put together a team roster very quickly.” City officials and parents will be accompanying the children to Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast.
The goal is to turn this into an annual event. Hu said plans are in the works for Canadian minor hockey teams to travel to China, as well.
All games will be played at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre and are open to the public.
Those interested can learn more via the SCMHA Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/scminorhockey
The SCMHA is also seeking Mandarin speakers to act as interpreters at the event.
Contact Brenda Rowe for more information: [email protected]
