The fast-paced, high-intensity sport of ice hockey has spread across China in recent years, and its profile has been further elevated by the just-concluded Harbin 2025 Asian Winter Games.
The popularity of the sport extends far beyond the country's colder regions, reaching unexpected places like Chongqing, a city in southwest China famously known for its scorching summers.
Among the rising stars of this ice hockey movement is 13-year-old Huang Heng'en, captain of the Chongqing Wangzi Ice Hockey U12 team. With seven years of experience, Huang can now glide across the ice with ease, showcasing his skills in skating, stickhandling, and shooting.
The young athlete's journey began at age six when he stumbled upon an ice rink at a local mall.
"I saw a group of people playing ice hockey. They looked so cool, so I wanted to give it a try," he recalled.
Despite initial struggles, falling countless times and even contemplating quitting, Huang has persisted through the past years. According to his mother, he always kept a positive attitude.
"Sometimes when I watched him suffer some small setbacks or grievances on the ice rink, I thought 'we are not pursuing the professional track after all. It is just a hobby, should we keep on doing this?' But he would give a positive answer whenever I asked him," she said.
Today, Huang's home is filled with trophies, a testament to his growth and success. His story reflects a broader trend in southern parts of China, where cities like Chongqing are investing in ice rinks and tournaments to nurture young talent.
Recently, Chongqing hosted a national youth ice hockey invitational, attracting teams from cities like Beijing, Chengdu, Wuhan, and Xiamen. The Chongqing Wangzi team, led by Huang, emerged victorious.
Coach Song Shan, who has mentored Huang and many others, emphasized the sport's appeal.
"Ice hockey combines teamwork, speed, and strength. So the children fell in love with the sport quickly. They look forward to every practice and game. Every time they participate in the competition, they are very excited," Song said.
The sport, traditionally dominated by boys, is also seeing growing participation from girls.
"There is no need to separate boys and girls at this age. After all, at a young age, the physical fitness of boys and girls in all aspects is similar. For my daughter, she liked to watch by ice rink and then I said, since you like to watch, why not try it yourself? It happened during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and she was very interested in the ice hockey game. So I let her choose, figure skating or ice hockey? She chose ice hockey without hesitation and has been learning the sport until now," said Liang Chengchao, father of a six-year-old hockey player. The tournament also featured teams like the Wuhan Bingfeng Team, coached by Vladimir, a Russian expatriate.
"I think our team is okay. We come to Chongqing to play hockey because in Wuhan, we have no regular tournaments. I know before the Olympic Games in Beijing, hockey is like growing up. A lot of students, maybe some kids, are not really interested in hockey. Now we have maybe 100 kids who play hockey between the schools," said Vladimir.
As ice hockey continues to gain traction across China, these young athletes are breaking barriers and inspiring a new generation to embrace the speed and passion of ice hockey.
Ice hockey thrives among Chinese youths
