Luc Tardif, President of the International Ice Hockey Federation Announces Chinese Men’s Hockey Team Will Be Reviewed On November 25 Regarding 2022 Olympics Participation

  • Kunlun Red Star, a team based in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, has become a de facto squad for China
  • The Chinese men’s national team is under heavy scrutiny by the International Ice Hockey Federation ahead of Beijing 2022
  • Kunlun Red Star, wearing red shirts with Chinese flag patches on the shoulder, fought back from four goals down to force overtime, before losing 5-4 to Amur Khabarovsk 5-4 yesterday
  • Kunlun have been playing in the Kontinental Hockey League, becoming a proxy for the China team and a base for naturalised players who grew up in the United States and Canada. The team has won seven of 28 games in the league this season.

IIHF Not Going to Remove Chinese Men’s Hockey Team From 2022 Winter Olympic Games

IIHF Council concludes meeting, decides fate of Chinese Hockey team

IIHF President Luc Tardif

by Adam Steiss|02 NOV 2021 IIHF

The IIHF Council came together for a three-day meeting in Zurich, Switzerland from 31 October-2nd November. 

“To be clear, the IIHF is not going to remove the Chinese team from the Olympic Games, the status of the men’s national team as a host nation participant in the Olympic ice hockey tournament was confirmed by Congress and remains unchanged.” said IIHF President Luc Tardif.

“We are working with the CIHA to confirm their player eligibility according to IIHF rules, and we will continue to assist them as they work towards preparing their team for the Olympic Games.” 

As part of ongoing evaluations of the Chinese men’s national team’s participation in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games Men’s ice hockey tournament, IIHF President Luc Tardif briefed the Council on the status of the team and reviewed the eligibility status of the players submitted in the initial team roster long list. 

The IIHF and the Chinese Ice Hockey Association are working together to schedule two games with the Chinese national team in a joint effort to evaluate the status of the team’s preparations for Beijing 2022.

The eligible national team players will compete as part of Kunlun Red Star in the KHL team’s league games on 15 and 17 November. Following the games, the IIHF Council will reconvene to discuss the next steps forward. 

The IIHF Council: