In a unique cross-cultural hockey exchange, the Chinese men's national hockey team has arrived in Western Canada for an extensive exhibition series. The tour is being orchestrated by Perry Pearn, a seasoned coach with deep roots in Edmonton's collegiate hockey scene and over two decades of NHL experience.
A Coaching Odyssey from NAIT to the World Stage
At 74 years old, Perry Pearn's coaching journey is a testament to his dedication to the sport. His career began locally, where he coached the NAIT Ooks for 14 years, amassing an incredible record of 658 games and winning five Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championships. His legendary 1984-85 NAIT squad posted a remarkable 44-2-2 record.
From there, Pearn spent 21 years as an NHL assistant coach with franchises including the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Vancouver Canucks. In recent years, he has become a global hockey ambassador, coaching Japan's national team, assisting Italy's men's squad, and working in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) with HC Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg.
The Chinese Team's Western Canada Itinerary
Acting as both coach and logistical coordinator, Pearn has meticulously planned a three-week, nine-game schedule for the Chinese national team against Canadian university and college opponents. The tour kicked off Wednesday, January 13, 2026, at the Downtown Community Arena against the USports Grant MacEwen Griffins.
The comprehensive schedule includes two games against the NAIT Ooks this Friday and Saturday, a contest in Camrose, two matches against Portage College in Lac La Biche (coached by former Oilers Stanley Cup winner Kevin McClelland), two games versus Briercrest College near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and a final game against Concordia University of Edmonton.
Building a Program with Olympic Ambitions
The Chinese men's team currently competes in the International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF) Division 1b group, which includes nations like Estonia, Romania, and Croatia. They showed promising progress by only losing 1-0 to Lithuania in last year's championship and have since been promoted to the 1a group, competing with teams like Great Britain and Kazakhstan.
While hockey remains a niche sport in China, its status as an Olympic discipline has led to significant investment from the national federation. "Hockey is not a big deal in China, but it’s an Olympic sport and their federation is funding the women’s and men’s programs very well," the original report noted. The women's program is further ahead internationally due to fewer competing nations, but the men's side, comprised mostly of players from the professional Chinese Hockey League, is steadily improving.
This tour is less about racking up wins and more about an educational experience. Facing tough Canadian collegiate competition provides invaluable exposure and development for the Chinese players as they build towards future international competitions, including potential Olympic appearances.
Pearn, now in his second year overseeing both the senior and junior national teams for China, understands the value of this kind of high-level competition. By pitting his squad against the very type of Canadian college programs where he began his storied career, he is creating a fitting and challenging proving ground for a nation eager to climb the global hockey ladder.
