China Uses Speed Advantage To Defeat Norway

Photos and Story by Robert Thomas

Speed, speed, greasy fast speed led team China to a 5 - 1 victory over top of Norway on Monday afternoon at the 2023 Para Ice Hockey Championships.

In a game which saw Norway not record the first shot on goal, until the 10 minute mark of the second period The feisty Norwegians held in their until the third period.

China opened the scoring early in the first period when Zhi Dong Wang beat the Norwegian netminder Andreas Sundt at 58 seconds.

Assisting on the goal was Jin Qiang Xu and Hong Guan Li.

The play leading up to China’s first goal - MJ Independent photo

The remainder of the first period and into the second period was totally dominated by China, who used their speed to just stay ahead of Team Norway.

For Chinese head coach Xian Xu Jin the Norwegian team was a big unknown and took some scouting. Scouting that showed China with speedier the Norway.

“We never had the opportunity before to play against Norway so last night during the game between Norway and Team Germany we were watching the game. We found that one of the characteristics of Team Norway was that their speed is a little bit slower than our team’s (speed),” Jin sad, speaking through an interpreter.

China’s Yo Feng Shen (left) attempts to score on the wraparound as Norway’s assistant captain Ola Oiseth (far right) chips in to help out his netminder Andreas Sundt - MJ independent photo

China would use their speed advantage to dominate Norway, keeping them from having a shot on goal until almost 25 minutes into the game.

Despite not having any shots for the first 25 minutes, Norway managed to play a defensive game keeping up to China.

After two - 15 minute - periods China was able to only score two goals despite massively outshooting their Team Norway opponents.

Jin said China’s strategy in the game was do use their speed against the slower Norwegian team.

A problem for China was Norway played a very effective defensive game for the majority of the first two periods making it hard for China to score as many goals as they thought they were capable of scoring.

China had to employ a strategy to get around Norway’s defence of style of play, he said.

“Our strategy is trying to pull them away from the goal. And then using the strategy of making some longer shots to try to score that way,” Jin said.

Norway’s Audun Bakke (left) battles against Team China’s Guang Jin Hu for the puck - MJ Independent photo

For China’s player of the game - who scored two goals - Wang Zhi Dong said China didn’t capitalize when the opportunity presented itself.

“… for our side there’s lots of opportunity to score, but we didn’t score as many as expected,” Dong said through an interpreter.

He said playing against teams they’ve never faced before. It’s important for China as China it helps their game develop as well as allows the team to develop strategies to become better.

Team Norway’s head coach Ken Babey was philosophical in the loss - a loss that makes it tougher for Norway to advance past the preliminary round after the loss on Sunday to Germany.

It was a tough loss but his team showed heart and never gave up, Babey said.

NORWAY’S Loyd remi solberg (LEFT) chases the puck behind Team China’s net with Zhi Lyu in hot pursuit - MJ independent photo

“China is a very fast team and very highly skilled and we just tried to play defensive game and limit their opportunities,” Babey said.

“For me as a coach against the team, like China, that I see as a medalist we just wanted to give a strong effort. The boys never quit, showed courage and stayed in the battles right to the end,” he said, adding “they were taking hits and giving hits right up to the end, and they could have called after the first period but they didn’t. I give the boys credit for that. “

Team China celebrates a goal - mj independent photo

China’s point scoring would be led by Shen Yi Feng with two goals and an assist followed closely by Wang Zhi Dong with a pair of goals.

Zhang Zheng scored a goal plus added an assist. Li Hong Gang and Lyu Zhi would both add two assists,

Norway’s Loyd Remi Solberg would score with 48 seconds left in the game assisted by Ola Oiseth and Audun Bakke to thwart a Team China shutout victory.

Team Norway’s next game is 3 pm on Wednesday when they face Italy and a must win.

Team China also has Tuesday off and they play their next game on Wednesday versus Team Germany at 11 am.

NORWAY’S loyd remi solberg (right) attempts toto score against team China, who has stacked their players to assist their netminder. Team China prevented the goal from being scored - MJ independent PHOTO

Feels Like Being The Home Team - Great Wall Behind China

If China has a secret weapon in the tournament it has to be their fan support.

Asked by MJ Independent how it felt to have so many people come out and support his team Coach Jin raised his fists and then spoke with pride about the support the local Chinese community has showered on his team.

“It was pretty encouraging and exciting to see so many local Chinese, and organized by the local Chinese (groups) out cheering for our team. Our team is a pretty young team and we can feel so many local Chinese out cheering for us in the game. It was really encouragement to our team.we have the feeling that we are at home.”

At both of their games there has been a large contingent of Chinese fans cheering in the stands.

Team, China was also welcomed at the Regina International Airport by the local Chinese community.

For Dong it’s great to see so much support in the stands.

“It is both shocking and exciting to see so many overseas Chinese cheering for our team. We feel the warmth from the local Chinese people,” he said.

Fan support for Team China was likened by a couple of spectators as the team’s Great Wall Behind China making it more difficult for opposition teams to get any momentum in the game.