I am a sunny and cheerful boy who loves sports. Since the age of five, I have been engaged in various sports such as fencing, taekwondo, ice hockey, skiing, swimming, table tennis, and basketball. I have persisted throughout the year and have achieved impressive results. Until high school studies worsened and I had to give up some of my sports hobbies. But ice hockey has never given up. I go skiing for a few days every winter and swim once a week. Play basketball twice.
I would like to highlight my dedication to ice hockey, a sport I have pursued passionately for nearly 12 years. Currently, I serve as the assistant captain for the Flame Hockey Team under the Beijing Little Wolves Ice Hockey Club(wearing the No. 7 team uniform). Beyond my personal training, I handle the daily training operations and logistics for the team and contribute as a teaching assistant for the club’s junior members. Our team, the Jingshan Ice Hockey Team, clinched the runner-up position in the A group at the “Sunshine Sports” 2018 First Dongcheng District Primary and Secondary School Ice Hockey League.
(I was raising my hand to celebrate)
The league, held from May 4 to May 12, 2018, at Beijing Haotai Ice Sports Center, saw participation from 13 teams across 9 schools, including 12 primary school teams and one middle school team. The event was organized by the Dongcheng District Primary and Secondary School Physical Health Management Center and was sponsored by the Dongcheng District Education Commission.
After 24 games spread over four days, champions were declared in the primary school A group, B group, and the middle school group. Fuxue Primary School emerged as the champion, Beijing Jingshan Education Group Ice Hockey Team as the runner-up, and Chongwen Primary School came in third in the A group competition. The closing ceremony was graced by distinguished guests including Deputy District Chief Liu Juncui of Dongcheng District, Director Wang Jun of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission’s Department of Physical, Health, and Arts Education, Director Su Jun of the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau’s Youth Sports Department, Secretary Liu Zao of the Dongcheng District Education Workers Committee, Deputy Director Duan Yong of the Dongcheng District Education Supervision Office, Deputy Director Chi Jindong of the Dongcheng District Sports Bureau, Mr. Zhang Yuan, General Manager of Haotai Group, and Mr. Zhang Changjian, Deputy General Manager of Haotai Group. World champion in freestyle skiing aerials, Guo Dandan, and renowned women’s singles figure skating champion Chen Lu presented awards to the players. The event was well attended, with more than 200 players and parents from relevant Dongcheng District schools participating in the closing ceremony.
Reflecting on the four games of this tournament, starting from the first match against Fuxue Hockey Team at 7:00 PM on Friday, May 4th, the Jingshan Hockey Team demonstrated a fierce determination, a healthy respect for win or loss, and a respect for their opponents that embodies the spirit of sportsmanship.
In the locker room before the first game, the first graders, newly dubbed as fresh blood of the Jingshan Hockey Team, giggled proudly as they donned their jerseys emblazoned with “Jingshan School Hockey Team” for the first time, eagerly preparing to secure a victory to kick off the season. Little did these spirited newcomers realize that their opponents that evening would be the formidable Fuxue Hockey Team from Dongcheng District. Moreover, the main lineup for Jingshan, aside from two goaltenders, Li Yunxi and Liu Shengyun, included only two players who had just moved up to fourth grade, Chen Jianuo and Wang Jingjie. Of the legendary Jingshan Hockey “Four Kings,” only Lin Kaizhao, number 16, was present.
(I was wearing a white No. 7 team uniform)
This meant: first, there would be a significant height disparity on the ice, leading to a potential mismatch; second, as the only main players, the fourth graders Chen Jianuo and Wang Jingjie had to switch from playing forwards to defense, allowing the first and second graders to take the forward positions; third, aside from the two fourth graders, the remainder of the team – comprised of the young first graders, including the only female player – were facing their first full-scale match with three 15-minute periods. This was a considerable challenge both physically and mentally, as they had only previously played 10-minute matches.
All the parents watched with bated breath, knowing the outcome would likely be a loss. In a high-speed, highly physical game like hockey, the nearly 20 cm height difference between the teams was a significant concern. For the coaches, team leaders, and parents, the top priority was “avoiding collisions and preventing injuries.”
Despite all this, there was never a moment when the team’s will to “fight and strive” dimmed even slightly.
Most of the team members were born in 2010, prompting the organizing committee to place protective markings on our young players to prevent the older, stronger players from making forceful, intentional contact.
Predictably, the first game ended in a loss to the taller and stronger team from Fuxue. Winning the championship was no longer a possibility! However, instead of rushing the players off the ice, Coach Zhang Jing and Team Leader Bi Zheng held a small post-game debrief right there on the ice.
(I was wearing a blue No. 7 team uniform)
Despite the defeat, the coach didn’t criticize but instead lavished praise on the young players for diligently following his strategies, keeping close tabs on their opponents, and showing neither fear nor a hint of surrender, despite their smaller stature. They never complained of fatigue nor slackened their efforts, even with a significant score deficit. This epitomizes the spirit of the Jingshan hockey team!
In the second match, against a less formidable opponent, Jingshan triumphed with a large margin.
The third match was a balanced contest. Even without the “Four Kings” of Jingshan playing, the team members executed Coach Zhang’s tactics flawlessly: they cooperated and passed the puck whenever they had the chance to attack, focusing on teamwork over individual glory. When it came time to defend, they moved actively to keep the opponents from getting too close to Jingshan’s goal. The players scored incrementally, and the goalie made precise, heroic saves to safeguard the goal.
In the fourth and final match for second place, Jingshan’s Four Kings: Hua Hongyang, Chen Muhuan, Guan Tianming, and Lin Kaizhao, all made their presence felt. In the locker room before the match, the players who had participated in the previous games were barely able to contain their excitement, each one eager to prove their mettle in this decisive game. The parents, too, were quietly optimistic, suspecting that the opponents had underestimated Jingshan’s capabilities, confident that this game would be a “win.”
(I was wearing a blue No. 7 team uniform)
(Wearing a blue team uniform, I am not afraid of tall and strong opponents’ attacks and take strict precautions)
As anticipated, in the final contest for second place, the Jingshan team’s tenacity was on full display. With the lead secured, Coach Zhang frequently rotated the younger players into the game. Fulfilling all expectations, these youngsters scored a goal, rightfully earning the loudest cheers of the match! Their performance – dribbling, passing, falling, rising, and striking the puck into the net – was a thrilling display of skill and determination. Behind this impressive feat lay not just the countless hours of sweat and tears shed by the Jingshan hockey kids, but also the endless rides and unwavering support from the hockey parents, who braved the cold by the rink. We are the passionate Jingshan hockey family, where regrets may exist but the spirit of striving always comes first. Brimming with vitality, we press on towards the championship!