The Inaugural Chinese Men's Professional Ice Hockey League Kicks Off in Shenzhen!

Shenzhen Team Secures a Victorious Start On November 19, the 2024-2025 season of the Chinese Men's Professional Ice Hockey League commenced at the Shenzhen Kunlun Red Star Ice Hockey Club, marking the official launch of the league's inaugural season. In the opening match on the 19th, Shenzhen Kunlun Red Star Ice Hockey Club defeated Liaoning Shenyang Aomei Ice Hockey Club with a score of 14-1. Additionally, Konstantin Sokolov from Shenzhen Kunlun Red Star and Edward Holling from Liaoning Shenyang Aomei were selected as the best players of the game. After the match, Han Yuhang, captain of the Shenzhen Kunlun Red Star Ice Hockey Club, shared with Shenzhen News that, "I'm thrilled to participate in the first match at our Shenzhen home venue. Winning today is the result of the combined efforts of all my teammates. We will strive to excel in this station." Shenzhen News reporters learned that the Chinese Men's Professional Ice Hockey League consists of two phases: the regular season and the playoffs. The regular season kicked off in Shenzhen on November 19, with four teams competing in a double-round robin format within a week to complete the first six rounds of the league. Subsequent regular season matches will be held in Qiqihar and Shenyang, while the playoffs will take place in Beijing.

The inaugural Chinese Men's Professional Ice Hockey League features four teams, namely Beijing Jingshi Men's Ice Hockey Team, Liaoning Shenyang Aomei Ice Club, Anhui Xinhua Men's Professional Ice Hockey Team, and Shenzhen Kunlun Red Star Ice Hockey Club, with a total of 131 athletes participating. Notably, Ye Jinguang, the captain of China's national men's ice hockey team during the Beijing Winter Olympics, made a surprise appearance at the opening match. In an interview with Shenzhen News, he expressed, "I'm delighted to see Chinese men's professional ice hockey reaching a new milestone. I will continue to contribute my part to Chinese men's ice hockey in the future." Li Yutian, Deputy Director of the Competition Department of the China Ice Hockey Association, revealed in an interview with reporters that the establishment of the Chinese Men's Professional Ice Hockey League aims to lay the foundation for future national team selections. The league's format encourages the participation of foreign players, further motivating domestic athletes to improve alongside their foreign counterparts. "Whether facing future events like the Asian Winter Games, World Championships, or Winter Olympics, only through high-quality and numerous matches can athletes' skills truly improve step by step."