New league, new vision for honing homegrown talent

With the Russia-based Kontinental Hockey League proving a little too advanced, starting next month Chinese pros hoping to play at the 2022 Winter Olympics will be groomed in a rebranded lower-level competition.

Considered the KHL's primary development circuit, the Supreme Hockey League, formerly known as VHL, has been expanded and rebranded as the Silk Road Hockey League with 29 clubs, including two from China.

The revamp, announced in Beijing on Thursday, was initiated by China's ORG Packaging and Beijing-based Kunlun Red Star in an effort to provide homegrown players with enhanced pro experience ahead of the 2022 Olympic tournament, for which China has already qualified as host nation.