In China, ice hockey has long been considered a 'minor' sport. Its history with ice hockey dates back only to the mid-1900s, when the Chinese Ice Hockey Association became a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) in 1963. However, there are some encouraging signs that suggest ice hockey is finally paying off. among Chinese sports fans.
Game Cultures
In terms of the most popular 'traditional' sports, football, soccer, and badminton rank high on the list, along with snooker. Of course, there are all kinds of hobbies and competitive pursuits that Chinese people have away from traditional games, not least dice and card-based games.
Sic Bo and Pai Gow are two of the most popular – and oldest – games of chance. Baccarat is also the most played card game in China. This is another game of chance that Chinese people seem to be interested in. The strength of its simple gameplay makes it completely accessible to the global iGaming market, too live casino baccarat increasingly offered in the West.
The live dealer sector in the iGaming industry is quickly becoming one of the most immersive and engaging options for card and dice fans around the world. In particular, it brings a casino-style experience to virtual players on any device or screen size. However, its popularity still sits firmly below online slot games, which continue to provide a cross between console and casino games. Of UK casino free spins some of the most attractive promotions among iGamers, who get access to the best slot titles in the industry, usually by creating an account.
However, ice hockey will soon go head-to-head with well-established traditional sports such as basketball and football. The Chinese government has made a significant commitment to the promotion of winter sports, seeking to integrate China as a major player in the Winter Olympics. Beijing hosting 2022 Winter Olympics it was time to shed water on the government. In the end, China finished fourth in the medal table that year, although ice hockey was not a medal-winning event.
Introducing China's First Professional Ice Hockey Team
Besides growing partnerships with well-established hockey hotbeds like Russia and Canada, China has sought to give its professional hockey stars a platform to impress. Therefore, with the launch of the Kunlun Red Star team, a team of experts entered the Continental Hockey League back in 2016. This league includes professional teams from Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan.
Kunlun Red Star plays its home games at the Shougang Ice Hockey Arena in Beijing and is coached by Mikhail Kravets, a former Soviet Hockey League star who played twice in the NHL for the San Jose Sharks from 1991-93.
The theory behind the launch of Kunlun Red Star was to give local Chinese hockey players exposure to high levels and competition. However, it is not clear how successful the move has been. A quick look at the list shows a team full of Canadian, Russian and American imports. In addition, the team only managed to make it to the KHL playoffs once after their first season (2016-17).
Still, there are encouraging signs for China at the annual World Championships. Having finished in 38th place in 2014, ten years later they finished in 26th place. It's obviously a slow process, but China is well on its way to becoming a major player in the world ice hockey community.
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