Yunnan has a youth ice hockey team

Players and coaches in the Yunnan Miancimu Hockey Team 

But do you know there is a "special" ice hockey team in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province? 

Even though it consists of children, a surprisingly high level of professionalism has been shown. This team is known as the Yunnan Miancimu Ice Hockey Team.  

Yang Minran (right), a former player of China Women's National Ice Hockey Team

Miancimu, as a local youth ice hockey team, was established less than a year ago in March, 2021. Yang Minran, the founder, once played for China Women's National Ice Hockey Team herself. 

Yang began skating when she was 9, and soon started her ice hockey training at the age of 10. After retirement, she decided to return to Yunnan - her home province - to coach young hockey players. 

"Last year, we took part in the Kunming Youth Ice Hockey League and eventually won the title." she proudly says. At present, the team has 37 players, and their ages range from 5 to 12 years old. 

Children of the hockey team 

According to her, snow sports were once unfamiliar to the public nationwide, but the turning point appeared in 2015 when the right to host 2022 Winter Olympics was given to Beijing. "That was where people's craze for winter sports all began."

So far, there are 5 ice hockey teams in Kunming, with approximately 300 people taking training classes on a regular basis.  And many of them, in fact, are teenagers or children.

Tian Haoqianyi, an 8-year-old boy, has played ice hockey for nearly 3 years. He tried skating for the very first time when he was at kindergarten, and soon found the joy of snow sport. Later, as his coach suggested, he started to practice ice hockey and joined Miancimu. 

Tian Haoqianyi played ice hockey when the Beijing Winter Olympics were underway

"In the past 3 years, ice hockey has brought several changes to my son," says the mother of Tian Haoqianyi, smiling. "On the one hand, he has apparently become healthier, with less illnesses. And on the other hand, ice hockey has turned him into a more confident and outgoing child. He's very much like to work with his friends now." 

Same to Tian Haoqianyi, Feng Ziyang is also a member of Miancimu. He has been playing ice hockey for two and a half years. As his mother observes, this sport has done more than just making her son stronger and healthier. "Through trainings and matches, Feng Ziyang can genuinely feel that he's doing better day by day. The sense of honor is irreplaceable and crucial to his growth." 

Feng Ziyang after winning the title of Kunming Youth Ice Hockey League 

The father of Chen Simiao, another youth player, shares his thoughts as the following: ice hockey requires lots of exercises which can let him fully enjoy a sport. It might look like a fierce and even dangerous game, but players are well-protected by the kits they wear. "So to me, there is nothing to worry about."

Chen Simiao's little brother recently joined Miancimu, too. They now play on a same ice hockey rink together. 

Little brother of Chen Simiao on the rink

As the coach, Yang Minran is happy to see more children being involved in this sport. "I'd love to welcome all youth in Yunnan to have a taste of ice hockey and find joy in it!" 

Writing and trans-editing by Wang Jingzhong (Yunnan Daily); photographs from Xinhua and interviewees