Chinese women hit the ice, with help from Canadians

It seems so.

I've always felt there's a lot of potential for Asian ice hockey teams. They are not bruisers, like the Philadelphia Flyers of the 1970s, but they are small, speedy, and talented. I recently watched a game between China and Japan at the Changchun Winter Games this year. I was quite impressed.

It looks like China will be getting some help in the ice hockey field (arena?)... at least the women, according to Sun Media in Canada:

China, which will host the 2008 IIHF World Championships, sent its top players to Calgary this summer to train with the Olympic Oval High Performance Female Hockey Program. Six players will join the three Alberta-based WWHL teams -- the X-Treme, Edmonton Chimos and expansion Strathmore Rockies -- for the upcoming season. As well, the entire Chinese team will relocate to Calgary until the new year to play 30 games vs. WWHL teams in preparation for the worlds.

Mario Amantea, the head coach of the X-Treme, agrees that there is big potential for Chinese women's ice hockey:

Amantea... has worked with the Chinese players for a month. He said they have plenty of skill but lack game sense and experience.

"Everything from a fundamental perspective is outstanding," Amantea said. "The big challenge is how they respond to game situations.

First, I had no idea that China was hosting the IIHF World Championships, which is fabulous. You can bet I'll be in the stands, along with many other Crazy Canucks.

If you can't wait until 2008 to catch some ice hockey, you can watch the Asia League Ice Hockey (ALIC) which features teams from Japan, South Korea, and China. Chinese fans might want to catch the Changchun Fuao take on the Beijing Hosa.