Stickhandling to respectability

Puck will drop on China's first national collegiate championships in November

Despite limited participation and a lack of facilities, China is determined to have ice hockey embedded in its collegiate sports system as a destination for talent being nurtured in the junior ranks.

The establishment of China's first college ice hockey championships, announced in Beijing on Wednesday, is expected to drive burgeoning junior participation in the sport to new heights by offering youngsters the opportunity to combine their love of the game with academic advancement.