'Free agent' furor

China's hockey hopes taking a hit after shoddy national tournament

Embarrassing events at China's highest-level domestic hockey tournament have exposed weaknesses in management and player development, even as the nation looks for a breakthrough in the sport ahead of hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Last week's National Ice Hockey Championships included a game that saw one team play without a single substitution, and another that finished with an astonishing score of 60-0.