https://www.scmp.com/rss/324538/feed The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league currently comprising 31 teams – 24 in the United States and seven in Canada. Based in New York City, the NHL is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the league play-off champions at the end of each season. The current champions are the Washington Capitals. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa US hockey player Jack Hughes quite literally fought tooth and nail at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. The 24-year-old centre for the NHL’s New Jersey Devils scored the winning goal against Team Canada in the gold medal game on Sunday after taking a stick to the face and losing two of his teeth. This is the third time the US has won the Olympics men’s ice hockey gold, and the first since 1980. Hughes’ missing front teeth barely seem to have dampened his mood. “I looked on the ice and saw my... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3344317/meet-us-hockey-player-jack-hughes-who-scored-golden-goal-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3344317/meet-us-hockey-player-jack-hughes-who-scored-golden-goal-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:00:12 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The start of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy is upon us. The torch relay is nearly complete and some of the top athletes are already making headlines. There are 16 sports in all, including some never seen before, and 116 gold medals are waiting to be awarded. Milan’s San Siro stadium is the venue for Friday’s opening ceremony, which is usually the most viewed moment of the Games as millions around the world will watch on official broadcasters. US pop star Mariah Carey and crossover tenor... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3342615/winter-olympics-2026-guide-all-you-need-know-about-milano-cortina-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3342615/winter-olympics-2026-guide-all-you-need-know-about-milano-cortina-games?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:51:37 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press An Ontario judge acquitted five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team on Thursday in their sexual assault case, saying the complainant’s allegations lacked the credibility needed to justify the charges. Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia said prosecutors could not meet the onus of proof for the charges against Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote. Carroccia said the complainant had a “tendency to blame others” for inconsistencies in her... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3319510/hockey-canada-sex-assault-trial-all-5-players-not-guilty-case-shook-nation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3319510/hockey-canada-sex-assault-trial-all-5-players-not-guilty-case-shook-nation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 19:40:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Simon Wang became the highest-drafted player born in China when the San Jose Sharks selected him with the first pick of the second round of the NHL draft on Saturday. Wang’s family moved from Beijing to Toronto when he was 12. The 6ft 5in defenceman surged forward in his development over the past year, showing more than enough potential to entice the Sharks with the 33rd overall selection. “It’s an unreal moment for my family, for hockey in China,” Wang said. “Just a really surreal moment, a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316247/simon-wang-goes-33rd-overall-sharks-making-history-highest-drafted-player-born-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3316247/simon-wang-goes-33rd-overall-sharks-making-history-highest-drafted-player-born-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Jun 2025 01:00:12 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Invited to watch his first ice hockey practice at an ice rink in Beijing, Wang Haoxi was no different from any impressionable, wide-eyed four-year-old being fascinated by the equipment the players wore. They resembled superheroes with sticks, uniforms and bulging pads, their faces hidden behind helmeted cages. This was before the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, when hockey was a niche sport in China and the NHL a mere pipe dream. “It was definitely the gear,” the 6ft 5in, 215lbs (1.96-metre, 98kg) –... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3315672/wang-haoxi-left-china-and-family-behind-chase-his-ice-hockey-dream-canada-age-12?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3315672/wang-haoxi-left-china-and-family-behind-chase-his-ice-hockey-dream-canada-age-12?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jun 2025 11:30:13 +0000 Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Alex Ovechkin for setting an “outstanding record” as the NHL’s all-time top goalscorer. In a message after Ovechkin’s 895th career goal broke a tie for the record with Wayne Gretzky in the Washington Capitals’ game Sunday against the New York Islanders, Putin said the achievement was something Russians would celebrate. “I congratulate you on your outstanding record. You have surpassed legendary masters in the number of goals scored in National... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3305671/meet-alexander-ovechkins-russian-model-wife-anastasia-shubskaya-their-beijing-meeting-how-nhls-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3305671/meet-alexander-ovechkins-russian-model-wife-anastasia-shubskaya-their-beijing-meeting-how-nhls-all?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Apr 2025 11:00:16 +0000 Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday congratulated star hockey player Alexander Ovechkin on his 895th NHL career goal, marking an all-time record. “I congratulate you on your outstanding record,” Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin on Monday. “You have surpassed legendary masters in the number of goals scored in National Hockey League regular-season games. “This achievement has become not only your personal success, but also a real celebration for fans in Russia and abroad,”... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3305540/russian-leader-vladimir-putin-congratulates-nhl-icon-alexander-ovechkin-goal-record?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3305540/russian-leader-vladimir-putin-congratulates-nhl-icon-alexander-ovechkin-goal-record?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:00:23 +0000 Hulk Hogan’s daughter Brooke may be feuding with her mother Linda, but she has her husband Steven Oleksy’s support to keep her strong. Recently, Linda claimed on her Instagram Story that her family is “the worst mess” and that her daughter Brooke is estranged from her, per People. “Brooke doesn’t talk to us. She had twins, she got married [and] she didn’t tell us,” Linda alleged. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brooke Oleksy (@mizzhogan) Brooke... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3304568/meet-brooke-hogans-husband-retired-nfl-player-steven-oleksy-his-professional-ice-hockey-career?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3304568/meet-brooke-hogans-husband-retired-nfl-player-steven-oleksy-his-professional-ice-hockey-career?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Mar 2025 20:00:08 +0000 Jeremy Renner and Jessica Simpson may be reigniting an old flame. More than a decade and a half after they were first linked romantically, the Hollywood stars have sparked rumours of a fling once more. Fans have noticed they have been flirting on Instagram recently, as noted by E! Online. A newly single Simpson – who split from her husband of 10 years, Eric Johnson, this year, per People – left a fire emoji under a shirtless workout video Renner posted. That was followed by The Hurt Locker... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3304220/who-jeremy-renners-ex-sonni-pacheco-former-actress-seems-have-split-her-latest-partner-just-hawkeye?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3304220/who-jeremy-renners-ex-sonni-pacheco-former-actress-seems-have-split-her-latest-partner-just-hawkeye?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Mar 2025 11:00:10 +0000 Hulk Hogan’s daughter, Brooke Oleksy, is officially a mother – of two. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brooke Oleksy (@mizzhogan) The 36-year-old recently announced the birth of her twins – a son and a daughter – with her husband, former NHL player Steven Oleksy. “So … just been staying off socials cooking these two cuties,” she wrote on Instagram last week, alongside pics of her wearing a sweatshirt with the words Mama Est. 2025 emblazoned on... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3295672/meet-hulk-hogans-daughter-brooke-hogan-who-welcomed-twins-36-year-old-singer-has-toured-backstreet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3295672/meet-hulk-hogans-daughter-brooke-hogan-who-welcomed-twins-36-year-old-singer-has-toured-backstreet?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:05:19 +0000 Eight-time Grammy winner Carrie Underwood performed at president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Before the event, a member of the president-elect’s transition team announced that the 41-year-old country music star will sing “America the Beautiful”, accompanied by The Armed Forces Chorus and The United States Naval Academy Glee Club. Meanwhile, amid rumours that she and her husband, Mike Fisher, have “fallen out of love”, per an In Touch Weekly source, another insider revealed... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3295460/meet-mike-fisher-carrie-underwoods-ex-nhl-player-husband-their-meet-cute-backstage-singers-concert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3295460/meet-mike-fisher-carrie-underwoods-ex-nhl-player-husband-their-meet-cute-backstage-singers-concert?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jan 2025 22:00:11 +0000 Kevin He became the first Chinese-born player to agree a deal with an NHL club when the 18-year-old forward signed an entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. Beijing-born He became the highest Chinese-born player taken in the NHL Draft when he was selected 109th overall in the fourth round this year by the Jets, who made a trade with Buffalo to jump 14 spots in the draft to take him. “It’s a dream come true,” He said of being drafted by the Jets. “It’s incredible, a huge... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3291276/winnipeg-jets-kevin-he-becomes-first-chinese-born-player-sign-nhl-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3291276/winnipeg-jets-kevin-he-becomes-first-chinese-born-player-sign-nhl-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:30:10 +0000 Candace Cameron Bure is opening up about her ideal date night. “The kids are going to get mad at me,” the 48-year-old American actress told Us Weekly in a recent interview to promote the Great American Family Christmas Festival. “I put great restaurant, wine, walk, sex.” “She cannot say that,” her husband, Valeri Bure, 50, laughed. “Certain things you don’t tell your kids!” The couple also discussed their first ever date, which happened to be lunch with Cameron Bure’s Full House co-star Lori... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3289720/who-candace-cameron-bures-russian-husband-valeri-bure-former-athlete-played-nhl-10-seasons-two-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3289720/who-candace-cameron-bures-russian-husband-valeri-bure-former-athlete-played-nhl-10-seasons-two-time?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Dec 2024 22:00:22 +0000 It seems former Alaska governor Sarah Palin is spending the holiday season with family. For Thanksgiving, the “Mother of Maga”, as a fan recently referred to her on X (formerly Twitter), cosied up with her boyfriend, NHL legend Ron Duguay, sharing a rare glimpse into their relationship on Instagram. The former ice hockey player also posted a snapshot from their celebration, in which his son Noah and Noah’s fiancée Meaghan McDonald were also present. Soon, news of Duguay and Palin’s continuing... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3289263/who-sarah-palins-nhl-legend-boyfriend-ron-duguay-and-who-did-ex-ice-hockey-player-date-he-met-mother?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3289263/who-sarah-palins-nhl-legend-boyfriend-ron-duguay-and-who-did-ex-ice-hockey-player-date-he-met-mother?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Dec 2024 10:00:14 +0000 Former NHL player Wayne Gretzky was among those seen partying at Mar-a-Lago with his family after Donald Trump’s presidential election win on November 5, according to the Daily Mail. Gretzky – who’s regarded as the greatest ice hockey player of all time – and his wife Janet Jones Gretzky, son Trevor, model daughter Paulina, and her husband, the top golfer Dustin Johnson, were all among the A-list guests at the Florida residence. Janet even posted a photo of her husband with Trump – though it... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3286755/who-wayne-gretzkys-trump-supporting-wife-janet-jones-gretzky-police-academy-5-actress-celebrated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3286755/who-wayne-gretzkys-trump-supporting-wife-janet-jones-gretzky-police-academy-5-actress-celebrated?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Nov 2024 22:00:08 +0000 Another Gossip Girl star has tied the knot. Jessica Szohr, who played the role of Vanessa Abrams in the hit series, just married her long-time partner Brad Richardson, as reported by Us Weekly. According to the source, actress Nina Dobrev was her maid of honour, while former cast members including Chace Crawford turned up to the event too. Per British media, it seems the It Ends with Us star Blake Lively, one of the series’ main characters, was not invited to the nuptials. Szohr has been... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3275617/who-jessica-szohrs-husband-brad-richardson-and-did-blake-lively-go-their-wedding-gossip-girl-alum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3275617/who-jessica-szohrs-husband-brad-richardson-and-did-blake-lively-go-their-wedding-gossip-girl-alum?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Aug 2024 10:00:32 +0000 Aryna Sabalenka is a former No.1 tennis player in the women’s singles and doubles, and the Belarusian athlete is currently ranked 3rd worldwide by the WTA. Much to fans’ delight, she also recently confirmed her relationship with Georgios Frangulis in an Instagram reel filmed at the Berlin Open. Just weeks before, 26-year-old Sabalenka had announced that she would not be playing in the upcoming Paris Olympics. Then she withdrew from Wimbledon hours before the tournament’s opening match in which... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3269380/meet-tennis-star-aryna-sabalenka-who-just-pulled-out-wimbledon-has-new-beau?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3269380/meet-tennis-star-aryna-sabalenka-who-just-pulled-out-wimbledon-has-new-beau?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jul 2024 20:00:10 +0000 Nelly Korda, the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in golf since Margaret Abbott in 1900, is all set to represent US women’s golf at the coming 2024 Paris Olympics, per USA Golf. Korda is the current world No 1 in the Women’s World Golf Rankings, with 14 wins at the LPGA Tour. She is also the defending Olympics champion, having scored gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games. She also recently made her Met Gala debut, wearing Oscar de la Renta as the first LPGA player to walk the glamorous... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3268858/who-olympic-gold-medallist-nelly-kordas-nhl-boyfriend-andreas-athanasiou-chicago-blackhawks-ice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3268858/who-olympic-gold-medallist-nelly-kordas-nhl-boyfriend-andreas-athanasiou-chicago-blackhawks-ice?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jul 2024 11:00:13 +0000 The internet is all aflutter at the prospect of a potential fling between Mary-Kate Olsen and ice hockey star Sean Avery, after the two were spotted together in the Hamptons over the Memorial Day weekend, per US media. The Full House alum and the Canadian were photographed hanging outside her new The Row store in Amagansett before joining their mutual friend Andy Cohen. The news comes three years after Olsen split from her ex-husband Olivier Sarkozy, the half-brother of politician Nicolas... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3264573/mary-kate-olsen-dating-sean-avery-and-what-he-now-retired-nhl-star-and-oppenheimer-actor-was-just?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3264573/mary-kate-olsen-dating-sean-avery-and-what-he-now-retired-nhl-star-and-oppenheimer-actor-was-just?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 May 2024 21:00:09 +0000 You’ve probably heard of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky and pro golfer Dustin Johnson – but not everyone realises they’re family. The woman who brings these men together? Paulina Gretzky, who’s a model, actress, singer … and the occasional caddie. The daughter of the Canadian hockey player is married to the two-time major champion. But she shared on the Pillows and Beer podcast in 2021 that she wasn’t interested in dating a golfer during her university years. In fact, her mum, actress Janet Jones,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3264257/meet-golf-legend-dustin-johnsons-wife-paulina-gretzky-shes-nfl-star-wayne-gretzkys-daughter-shares-2?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3264257/meet-golf-legend-dustin-johnsons-wife-paulina-gretzky-shes-nfl-star-wayne-gretzkys-daughter-shares-2?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 May 2024 10:00:16 +0000 Lynn Farah Lynn Farah They’re stars both on and off the ice, with superfans elevating hockey players to celebrity status. These players have dominated the ice with their prowess and speed, raking in big money while they’re at it. But just who is the richest and how did they get there? We check out some of the wealthiest National Hockey League (NHL) players of all time, according to Celebrity Net Worth … 7. Mark Messier Estimated net worth: US$65 million Spectators either love him or hate him, but there’s no denying... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3248153/6-richest-nhl-hockey-players-ever-net-worths-ranked-wayne-great-one-gretzky-and-russias-alexander?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3248153/6-richest-nhl-hockey-players-ever-net-worths-ranked-wayne-great-one-gretzky-and-russias-alexander?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Jan 2024 20:00:20 +0000 Police in England arrested a man on Tuesday on suspicion of manslaughter in the death of American ice hockey player Adam Johnson, whose neck was cut by a skate during a game. Johnson, 29, was playing for the Nottingham Panthers against the Sheffield Steelers on October 28 when he was struck by an opponent’s skate blade in the Elite Ice Hockey League game at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena. South Yorkshire Police did not name the suspect or provide his age. He was in police custody. Matt Petgrave, 31,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3241567/manslaughter-arrest-after-death-us-ice-hockey-player-adam-johnson-whose-was-neck-cut-skate-blade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3241567/manslaughter-arrest-after-death-us-ice-hockey-player-adam-johnson-whose-was-neck-cut-skate-blade?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Nov 2023 22:07:09 +0000 As China ice hockey captain Brandon Yip led his history making Beijing Winter Olympics team out the National Indoor Stadium last month, his two biggest fans were cheering from their television at the crack of dawn some 8,500km away. Based in the “little old” city of Maple Ridge, Vancouver, Wayne and Gale Yip watched their son pay tribute to his Chinese heritage while paving the way for a new generation of mainland hockey enthusiasts. Three of Brandon’s grandparents were born in China. He is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169355/winter-olympics-china-ice-hockey-team-captain-brandon-yips-journey-nhl?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3169355/winter-olympics-china-ice-hockey-team-captain-brandon-yips-journey-nhl?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Mar 2022 02:15:23 +0000 Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin asked for “no more war” while speaking with reporters on Friday. The comments were the first public ones from the Russian winger on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ovechkin has previously publicly supported Vladimir Putin. When asked if he still supported the Russian invasion, the Capitals winger responded by saying it was out of his control, but he hoped it would end in peace. “I’m Russian, right? Sometimes something I can’t control. It’s not in my... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3168502/russian-athletes-alexander-ovechkin-and-andrey-rublev-call-no-more-war-first?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3168502/russian-athletes-alexander-ovechkin-and-andrey-rublev-call-no-more-war-first?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Feb 2022 06:15:15 +0000 Born in Canada to Hong Kong parents, Zach Yuen has emerged as one of the faces of Chinese ice hockey ever since declaring his Winter Olympics intentions years ago. And what sturdier shoulder to rest the hopes of 1.4 billion people on. The 28-year-old defenceman is no stranger to pressure or the limelight having been one of the first players of Chinese descent to be drafted into the National Hockey League (NHL). As he laces up his custom Five Star Red Flag-themed skates and visits familiar... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3165990/winter-olympics-zach-yuen-canadian-hong-kong-ice-hockey-star?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3165990/winter-olympics-zach-yuen-canadian-hong-kong-ice-hockey-star?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Feb 2022 00:15:13 +0000 The sophomore slump is a common plight for athletes in any sport, however it’s quite clear it doesn’t apply to Filipino-American Jason Robertson. The Dallas Stars left winger, whose mom Mercedes was born in the Philippines, is averaging more than a point a game through 23 games in the NHL this season, just his second in the league. During the 2020-21 campaign, Robertson, who stands 190cm and weighs 90 kgs, was a Calder trophy finalist for rookie of the year, and has now solidified himself as one... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3162315/filipino-american-nhl-star-jason-robertson-relishes-his-status?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3162315/filipino-american-nhl-star-jason-robertson-relishes-his-status?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Jan 2022 00:15:14 +0000 The National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association have agreed that athletes will not participate in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing due to concerns about Covid-19, according to ESPN. A virus outbreak has led the NHL to postpone games and pause the regular season, with numerous players in health and safety protocols. Dozens of games have been rescheduled so far this year, with several teams deciding to shut down through the holiday break. The dates for the Olympics, which start on February... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3160618/nhl-withdraw-beijing-winter-olympics-after-coronavirus-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3160618/nhl-withdraw-beijing-winter-olympics-after-coronavirus-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Dec 2021 23:17:57 +0000 The National Hockey League will uphold its end of the agreement allowing its players to take part in the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Speaking at the conclusion of the league’s board of governors meeting in Florida, commissioner Gary Bettman said despite “a whole host of issues” he was not going to prevent the players from taking part in the Games. “There are a number of open issues, and I know the Players’ Association has concerns about them,” Bettman said. “But ultimately, we will honour [the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3159315/beijing-2022-nhl-plans-honour-winter-olympics-deal-players-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3159315/beijing-2022-nhl-plans-honour-winter-olympics-deal-players-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Dec 2021 03:52:28 +0000 China will take part in the men’s hockey tournament at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing after initial concerns that the team would be embarrassed on home ice against NHL-level competition. The International Ice Hockey Federation confirmed China’s participation on Tuesday, avoiding what would have been an unprecedented removal of a host country’s team for performance reasons. The IIHF spent recent weeks reviewing players’ eligibility to represent China. Players making up the Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3158829/china-cleared-play-mens-hockey-beijing-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3158829/china-cleared-play-mens-hockey-beijing-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Dec 2021 18:28:36 +0000 Growing up in East Vancouver in the 1960s, Barry Beck was embedded with ice hockey culture from day one. The 64-year-old, who has lived in Hong Kong since 2007 and worked as a coach, played more than 600 games in the National Hockey League before retiring in 1990. Beck said from a very young age, there were two goals for a Canadian hockey player, dreams kids fantasised about from the moment they could lace up skates and head onto a sheet of ice. “Besides winning the Stanley Cup,” said Beck,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3156262/beijing-2022-nhls-inclusion-winter-olympics-pours-cold-water-boycott?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3156262/beijing-2022-nhls-inclusion-winter-olympics-pours-cold-water-boycott?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Nov 2021 02:30:14 +0000 The National Hockey League’s best of the best will be making their way to China in February for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Hockey fans across the planet are salivating at this tournament, as NHL players did not make the trip to South Korea in 2018 because of a number of issues between the players and league management. Now with a new collective bargaining agreement in place, the best 150 or so skaters will be packing their bags in early 2022 and heading into Beijing’s “closed loop” for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3153983/beijing-2022-five-nhl-players-keep-your-eye-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3153983/beijing-2022-five-nhl-players-keep-your-eye-winter-olympics?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Oct 2021 03:13:40 +0000 As National Hockey League players kick off the 2021-22 season, the best ice hockey players in the world are set to showcase their talent in the first full campaign post Covid-19. However over in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, arguably the second best ice hockey league on the planet, a problem continues to boil over for the International Ice Hockey Federation and the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The Kunlun Red Star, a Beijing-based team sit tied for last in the East Division. The team... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3152377/beijing-2022-iihf-could-pull-chinas-mens-ice-hockey-team-olympics-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3152377/beijing-2022-iihf-could-pull-chinas-mens-ice-hockey-team-olympics-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Oct 2021 00:00:23 +0000 Through it all – bouts of depression, anxiety, concussions, injuries, moving continents, endless travel, getting cut and traded – Jordan Laroche said he has no regrets. The ice hockey goalie’s story is a familiar one, as for every Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Marc-Andre Fleury, there are millions of athletes who never made it for various reasons. Laroche’s quest to become a professional ice hockey goalie took him from Hong Kong to Canada, and through a series of trials and tribulations,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3149561/hong-kong-ice-hockey-goalie-jordan-laroche-game-he-loves-whole?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3149561/hong-kong-ice-hockey-goalie-jordan-laroche-game-he-loves-whole?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Sep 2021 14:15:15 +0000 One of the first ice hockey games to take place in Hong Kong ended rather theatrically. In 1984, Swire Group opened a tiny rink at Taikoo Shing’s Cityplaza, and while it was an improvement on the old Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park ice rink, which had only metal handrails for boards, the new sheet of ice presented another challenge – it was right in the middle of a shopping mall. During a heated game, an errant slapshot flew over the boards and smashed the window of a clothing store, sending... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3148148/why-hong-kongs-ice-hockey-players-are-feeling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3148148/why-hong-kongs-ice-hockey-players-are-feeling?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Sep 2021 00:15:16 +0000 It only took scoring once for the Tampa Bay Lightning to strike twice and repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Backstopped by their star goaltender and the only two Tampa Bay players on the ice without their name on the Cup, the Lightning won it all for the second time in 10 months by beating the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in Game 5 on Wednesday night. Andrei Vasilevskiy had a series-ending shutout for an NHL-record fifth consecutive time dating to the 2020 final. Finishing with a handful in a frantic... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3140271/nhl-tampa-bay-lightning-strike-twice-winning-stanley-cup-front?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3140271/nhl-tampa-bay-lightning-strike-twice-winning-stanley-cup-front?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jul 2021 04:06:34 +0000 With less than 250 days, China is nearing the final stages of preparation for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. A number of international coaches, executives, builders and planners have been brought in to help the government pull off its second edition, after a successful 2008 Summer Olympics. Expatriates have long been a staple in key sectors in Beijing and Shanghai, mainly in finance and tech. Now China is importing knowledge and experience in sports, winter ones specifically. Multiple data... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3137848/beijing-2022-canadian-helping-bring-ice-hockey-culture-china-imports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3137848/beijing-2022-canadian-helping-bring-ice-hockey-culture-china-imports?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Jun 2021 01:38:49 +0000 Legendary US ice hockey player Julie Chu spoke up about the importance of fostering minority communities in the sport as it celebrates Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Chu, born in Connecticut to a Chinese father and US-born Chinese-Puerto Rican mother, was the first Asian-American woman to play for the US Olympics ice hockey team and went on to win four Olympic medals (three silvers and a bronze) at the 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 Winter Games. The trailblazer was voted by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3134395/chinese-american-ice-hockey-trailblazer-julie-chu-hopes-make?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3134395/chinese-american-ice-hockey-trailblazer-julie-chu-hopes-make?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 May 2021 00:00:09 +0000 National Hockey League players look to make their return to the Winter Olympics after sitting out the last edition in South Korea in 2018. The NHL, the players’ association and the International Olympic Committee were unable to come to an agreement on a few issues, which means the superstars sat out. Things look much more promising for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, a year out from the Games, as the NHL has worked out a new collective bargaining agreement that looks to see the players also... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3120151/beijing-2022-canada-us-favoured-nhl-superstars-make-return?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3120151/beijing-2022-canada-us-favoured-nhl-superstars-make-return?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Feb 2021 02:00:13 +0000 As the National Hockey League gets set to kick off its new season, a number of changes will take place due to the coronavirus – new divisions, including an all-Canadian one, plus a shortened season and revamped play-off structure. The league’s growing diversity also has some players with Asian heritage standing on the precipice of stardom. The question is, will the shortened season and the new format be a good thing for them or will the changes bring an entirely new crop of talent to the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3116918/asian-nhl-players-matt-dumba-nick-suzuki-and-kailer-yamamoto?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3116918/asian-nhl-players-matt-dumba-nick-suzuki-and-kailer-yamamoto?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Jan 2021 01:00:23 +0000 Turns out it’s easy to take the Canadian out of Canada, but really tough to take the Canada out of the Canadian. In 2011, Chris Ivany left Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia with his wife Hollie, moving to Hong Kong to teach English. Ivany, like any good Canadian kid, has been an ice hockey nut (just “hockey” to Canadians) since a young age, playing, coaching, referring and talking about the game endlessly. Soon, Ivany’s wife had enough, as it seemed her husband was not letting go of his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3116090/canadian-contingent-hong-kong-helps-ice-hockey-podcast-find-devout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3116090/canadian-contingent-hong-kong-helps-ice-hockey-podcast-find-devout?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Jan 2021 00:00:06 +0000 Within the new collective bargaining agreement in place between the National Hockey League and its players association is a plan for the players to head to the next two Winter Olympics, after missing out in South Korea in 2018. This is really good for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing when it comes to exposure, television rights and overall global appeal of the Games. The NHL is one of the largest sporting leagues in the world, ranking sixth in terms of revenue, just behind the English Premier... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3115773/2022-winter-olympics-chinas-ice-hockey-teams-will-be-wrong-side-massive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3115773/2022-winter-olympics-chinas-ice-hockey-teams-will-be-wrong-side-massive?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Dec 2020 02:00:09 +0000 The sporting world has many examples of how to go about staging events and games during the global pandemic. All four major North American leagues – the National Football League, the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association – have successfully resumed play, albeit without fans for the most part. The NFL kicked off in September and made a number of adjustments to cope with the new Covid-19 landscape. They cancelled all preseason games, international... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3108605/hong-kong-sevens-how-world-rugby-and-hong-kong-rugby-union-can-pull-april?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3108605/hong-kong-sevens-how-world-rugby-and-hong-kong-rugby-union-can-pull-april?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Nov 2020 00:00:14 +0000 An interesting theme emerges when you look at the ages of the 10 athletes who will be vying for the two titles this weekend at the 2020 CrossFit Games in Aromas, California. While reigning champion Mat Fraser is 30, and women’s champion Tia-Clair Toomey is 27, there is a distinct trend with some of the remaining competitors. On the men’s side there is 24-year-old Samuel Kwant, 21-year-old rookie sensation Justin Medeiros and 26-year-old Jeffrey Adler, who will join Noah Ohlsen, 29, in trying to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/crossfit/article/3106230/crossfit-games-2020-youth-movement-nipping-heels-veterans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/crossfit/article/3106230/crossfit-games-2020-youth-movement-nipping-heels-veterans?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Oct 2020 14:00:23 +0000 Matt Dumba has mostly good memories from playing ice hockey as a kid growing up in the Canadian city of Calgary. Located in the landlocked province of Alberta, it’s known for oil patches, cattle, chilly winters, and also for producing some top notch hockey players. Dumba was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, the province to the east of Alberta, but his father moved the family west when a job came up a few years after Dumba was born. The Dumba family were excited to get out of the Prairies and into... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3082724/filipino-canadian-nhl-player-matt-dumba-blazes-trail-diversity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3082724/filipino-canadian-nhl-player-matt-dumba-blazes-trail-diversity?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:15 +0000 The commissioners of the four major sports leagues in North America – the National Basketball League, the National Football League, the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball – all have very distinct personalities. Adam Silver, the NBA’s commissioner is a well-respected, astute and diplomatic leader. Gary Bettman, the NHL’s commissioner, has a reputation for being a shrewd negotiator, hated by players and fans, but loved by owners. The MLB’s Rob Manfred, in charge since 2015, has... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3082312/nfls-right-wing-mentality-likely-test-coronavirus-restrictions-roger-goodell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3082312/nfls-right-wing-mentality-likely-test-coronavirus-restrictions-roger-goodell?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2020 05:00:11 +0000 The unprecedented pause in sports across the world because of the coronavirus pandemic has given some sports teams, such as the Brooklyn Nets, a much-needed reset. Let us not forget March 11 when Rudy Gobert told Utah Jazz medical staff he wasn’t feeling well and was taken to hospital, kicking off an unprecedented suspension of worldwide sports the likes we haven’t seen since World War II. On March 10, which seems like ages ago, the NBA’s Nets were in the dumps. Superstar guard Kyrie Irving had... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3081589/brooklyn-nets-and-covid-19-pause-injured-athletes-and-underachieving-teams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3081589/brooklyn-nets-and-covid-19-pause-injured-athletes-and-underachieving-teams?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2020 00:00:11 +0000 When the NHL resumes play after the coronavirus pandemic eases, non-NHL arenas won’t be utilised, according to commissioner Gary Bettman. Interviewed on Wednesday night by Sportsnet’s Ron MacLean on Facebook, Bettman said that the league’s options include restarting in two to four of the regularly used venues. Bettman acknowledged that all contingencies are iffy at this point, with multiple ideas being considered. “We’re modelling,” he said. “We’re trying to see what our options will be under... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3081235/nhl-season-could-resume-two-four-cities-says-commissioner-gary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3081235/nhl-season-could-resume-two-four-cities-says-commissioner-gary?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2020 07:56:17 +0000 Two of the leagues hardest hit by the global pandemic were undoubtedly the National Basketball League and the National Hockey League. On March 11, Utah Jazz centre Rudy Gobert told team staff he wasn’t feeling well and was taken to a nearby hospital. What happened next set in motion a cascade throughout the professional sporting world as the NBA cancelled the game, then postponed the season, and the NHL followed suit almost immediately given they share many arenas and venues. By the end of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3080727/nba-and-nhl-look-restart-and-salvage-seasons-coronavirus-looms-large?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3080727/nba-and-nhl-look-restart-and-salvage-seasons-coronavirus-looms-large?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2020 01:00:13 +0000 US President Donald Trump is hankering for a return of live sports action, but league supremos are taking a cautious approach to competition amid the coronavirus pandemic. “We have to get our sports back,” Trump said on Tuesday. “I’m tired of watching baseball games that are 14 years old.” Sports in America, like the rest of the world, have been brought to a virtual standstill by Covid-19. The NBA shut down on March 11 after Utah Jazz centre Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus, and the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3079979/trump-eager-get-sports-back-league-chiefs-remain-wary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3079979/trump-eager-get-sports-back-league-chiefs-remain-wary?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2020 03:26:27 +0000 Boxing postponed, hockey cancelled and football behind closed doors. That might sound familiar in these largely sport-free days but it is how the sporting world was affected by the Spanish flu pandemic a century ago. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic might seem unprecedented but the sporting world has been here before, albeit in very different times. The H1N1 outbreak, the same strain as the swine flu of 2009, was first recorded in 1918 and lasted until late 1920, with a more virulent second wave... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3078560/coronavirus-sport-echoes-spanish-flu-pandemic-ended-nhl-stanley-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3078560/coronavirus-sport-echoes-spanish-flu-pandemic-ended-nhl-stanley-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2020 04:15:23 +0000