There might be some concern about China’s competence in ice hockey as host of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
But Victoria Grizzlies forward Eddie Yan did his part for his country’s hockey progress, and gave doubters plenty to ponder, by scoring seven goals and adding 13 assists for 20 points in five games to lead China to the IIHF world U-20 Division III championship this week in Iceland.
“This really helped to show people what we can do,” said Yan, who was named tournament MVP.
And what he can do. Yan, who will be 21 in 2022, certainly staked his claim to becoming an Olympian at that time on the Chinese senior national squad.
“We played well. It’s a good feeling,” he said.
“There’s a lot more room to think and make decisions on the larger, Olympic-size ice rink. And a lot more room to skate, which is my game, and which I liked about the international style.”
Yan, who was born and raised in Beijing to age nine before coming to Canada, captained China and led the tournament in points and with his plus-19 rating and was second in goals.
China was overwhelming in outscoring its opponents 49-5 in winning all its games, topped with the 5-1 victory over silver-medallist Australia in the final. Turkey won the bronze medal with Bulgaria fourth, Iceland fifth, Taiwan sixth, South Africa seventh and New Zealand eighth among a group of nations that would be more at home on a rugby pitch than an ice rink.
China will be promoted next year to Division II, Group B, and joins Serbia, Croatia, Netherlands, Belgium, South Korea and Israel. Mexico will be relegated to Division III.
From Reykjavik to Colwood, Yan rejoins the Island Division-leading Grizzlies (28-15-2) tonight for their B.C. Hockey League contest against the division last-place Cowichan Valley Capitals (13-29-5) at The Q Centre.
“It’s great to see all my Grizzlies teammates again,” he said.
Yan added he returns a better team player as he rejoins a Grizzlies squad that boasts four players ranked by Central Scouting for the 2019 NHL draft, including projected first-rounder Alex Newhook and projected second-rounder Alex Campbell.
“As captain of the Chinese team, I had to be a leader on and off the ice,” said Yan.
“It built up my confidence that I could lead a team to the gold medal.”
Yan and the Grizzlies continue their weekend home stand with a Sunday matinée against the Vernon Vipers (18-17-10).
ICE CHIPS: Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon, away on a scouting trip, will miss the weekend set.
