Dragons must fire in KHL rematch

Kunlun Red Star will return to the scene of its fairytale Kontinental Hockey League debut on Thursday, hoping to snap a two-game losing run.

The Dragons have gone cold since two impressive wins stamped their KHL arrival, 3-1 defeats to HC Sochi and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod bringing China's first-ever team in the Russia-based league back to Earth.

A 2-2 record puts them 12th in the 15-team Eastern Conference, although a win would propel them into the top half.

But the fledgling franchise holds fond memories against its next opponent, having scored late to beat Amur Khabarovsk 2-1 in its Sept 1 opener.

That win, and the resounding 6-3 defeat of Admiral Vladivostok in its Beijing debut last Monday, meant Red Star were the only undefeated team in the league at one point.

"It was great to be able to be rewarded for all of our hard work in the last few months," Canadian-born Chinese defender Zach Yuen said.

Along with Chinese-born forward Rudi Ying, Yuen has played in all four games so far.

"I think that every new team we play will be a tough test, because going into the game, other than doing some scouting of the opposing team's previous games, we will not have any game experience to fall back on," he said of their introduction to what is regarded as the world's second-best ice hockey league.

"Every team in this league is a good team, and we will do everything we can to prepare ourselves for the new experience."

Thursday's game is the last on the road before they return to Shanghai for three home matches at the Sanlin Sports Center in the Eastern Chinese metropolis on Sept 18, 20 and 22.

The KHL boasts 29 teams in eight different countries and plans to expand to London.

While winning remains important, the club's responsibility goes beyond that.

Tasked with lifting the profile of the sport ahead of Beijing's 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Red Star is on a mission to grow their fan base and trigger an improvement in the standard of play in China.

Backed by heavyweight Russian coaches and administrators, and flanked by experienced recruits from Europe and North America, Chinese players like Yuen will only improve.

"It's a great opportunity, personally, to be able to play at this level," the 23-year-old said.

"Indeed there will be many things for me to learn from all the very experienced players and coaches.

"The 2022 Beijing Olympics will mark the beginning of an era for Chinese hockey and I am looking forward to it and hope to be a part of it."

murray.wenzel@21stcentury.com.cn