November 21: Following in the footsteps of HC Kunlun Red Star and Beijing Shougang ice hockey clubs, another professional ice hockey club, Zhongshang Hokay Ice Hockey National Team Club (ZSHOKAY Sports), has announced its establishment at a press conference in Beijing.  

Reportedly, the club has been set up based on 浩泰希望冰球队 (Haotai Xiwang Bingqiudui, literally translated as Hokay Hope Ice Hockey Team). Founded in 2009, Hokay Hope was the only private-run professional ice hockey team in China, and not by the sports administrative system. 

Prior to the launch of ZSHOKAY Sports, Hokay Hope has gathered together over 20 young ice hockey players who are all aged around 20 and are expected to embrace their “golden age” on the rink at Beijing 2022. 

Now, these players have been transferred to the new ZSHOKAY Sports’ first team. In the future, the first team will be expanded to around 30 players with the addition of new players including foreign players. ZSHOKAY Sports will also set up second and third reserve teams to complete the club’s talent-development system.

Also at the press conference was the signing of its partnership deals. ZSHOKAY Sports’ title sponsor 中商华通资产管理有限公司 (literally translated as Zhongshang Huatong Investment Management Co., Ltd.) has inked deals respectively with the Department for Olympic Games of the General Administration of Sport of China and the Chinese Ice Hockey Association (HINA). 

In the future, the company will support the Chinese national teams’ players to prepare for Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022, as well as supporting HINA in promoting the sport of ice hockey in China.  

Additionally, a fourth national ice hockey club in China will be announced soon.

Source: Bingqiujia 

Proofread by Raymond Fitzpatrick