Moose Jaw 2023: Get to Know China

Was the bronze medal at the Winter Games a one-and-done, or will the Chinese come with an even stronger and more improved team to their A-Pool debut? 17 May 2023

An aerial view of a Para ice hockey team celebrating in front of the goal on an ice rink

Chinese players celebrating at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games when the team picked a bronze medal in their Paralympic debut

ⒸRyan Pierse/Getty Images

By Stuart Lieberman | For World Para Ice Hockey

The 2023 World Para Ice Hockey Championships will take place from 28 May - June 4 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in Canada. The top eight teams from around the world will compete for the world title, with the top six finishers staying in the A-Pool for the next season. Follow along as we break down what you need to know about each team.

China

Background
China won a surprise and historic Paralympic bronze medal last year on its home ice at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games only five years after starting a Para ice hockey programme. The Chinese won all of their preliminary round games and beat South Korea for the third spot on the podium. Its programme only started in 2017, and during this period they have progressed from the C-Pool and are now ready to make their debut in the A-Pool after winning the B-Pool Worlds in 2021 with five convincing wins in as many games.

World Ranking: 6th

World Championships History
Making World Championships A-Pool debut.

Athletes to Watch
Forward Yifeng Shen was China’s best player on the ice at the Beijing 2022 Paralympics with eight goals and six assists. Others have already referred to Shen as the Connor McDavid of Para ice hockey. Now a year older at 25, he is ready to repeat that effort and will be joined again by an even younger emerging star, 22-year-old forward Zhidong Wang, who had five goals and seven assists at last year’s Paralympics.

Matchup to Watch: China vs. Italy on 28 May
Were the Beijing 2022 Games a one-and-done for China, or will they come with an even stronger and more improved team to Moose Jaw? Their opening matchup against Italy, the next Paralympic Winter Games host nation, will reveal what type of team they will be in the long-run, as they have yet to play in a major international tournament since winning Paralympic bronze.