How 3 Canadians taught a Chinese hockey gear manufacturer to love the game
CBC
When Rake Tao stepped onto the ice for his first game of hockey in Hangzhou, China, he was confident. And why wouldn't he be?
As the owner and operator of IBX Hockey, he had created the first Chinese hockey brand, which was used by China's junior teams, and his top-notch hockey gear was sold across Asia.
He knew the equipment inside and out, and employed many people to manufacture countless hockey gloves, padding and other gear. But he'd never been on the ice.
"The funny thing is, before I played hockey, I noticed everyone is moving very fast on ice. And you know, I think, 'I can do that,'" Tao told CBC News with a laugh.
"I tried to play hockey, but everybody hates me. I'm a terrible skater! So then they asked me to be in net."
Tao jokes he discovered a "gift" for standing still in the net, hoping the puck (or ball, as they call it in China) would bounce off some of his gear — gear made in his own factory.
Moored in his net, he fell in love with the ice-level view of the speed and skill of the game.
"My life has been totally changed because of hockey," he said. "Along the way, there were many friends from Canada I met, which helped and influenced me to make hockey possible here in my area in China."
In 2017, CBC News told the story about three Canadian English teachers who introduced hockey night to Hangzhou: Kyle MacNeil of Sydney, N.S., Will Lefebvre of Middleton, N.S., and Frank Ienzi of Ottawa. The trio had struggled to find ice time in Hangzhou's rink, which was inside a shopping mall and mostly used for skating. They had to wait until the mall closed to play late at night.
The Canadians met Tao, who manufactured hockey gear for Canadian company Eagle Hockey and later Vaughan Custom Sports, before starting his own business. He helped them get better access to the rink, and they taught him about the game.
"We're trying to make hockey happen. And it is happening with everybody's help, especially the guys from Canada," Tao said.
Ienzi and Lefebvre have both left China. MacNeil still lives there, and has married and plans to return to Nova Scotia with his wife in 2023.
"In the early years of the league, I maintained the website and made the promotional material to get more locals and expats interested," MacNeil said.
"Rake handles all of that now. I also no longer play — my knees aren't what they used to be — and I've donated all my gear to the league. I've since taken on the role of league DJ, and do what I can to pump up the crowd. Still to this day, China is largely unaware of Western music, and I enjoy bringing some of that to our games."
Liberal leadership hopeful Mark Carney says he'd run a deficit to 'invest and grow' Canada's economy
Liberal leadership hopeful Mark Carney confirmed Sunday that a federal government led by him would run a deficit "to invest and grow" Canada's economy, but it would also balance its operational spending over the next three years.
The St. Anthony, N.L., Boys and Girls club is "starting to dream about what's possible to make the community even stronger" after its building was destroyed by a fire, said national CEO Owen Charters.
Groundhog Day: The Musical, based on the 1993 Bill Murray film, is having its Canadian premiere in Sudbury., following stints in London and New York.
A vacant north-end Halifax building that was previously described as an "immediate safety risk" by a fire inspector caught fire early Sunday.
This is part of a series called Ann's Eye, featuring the work of Ann Paul, a Wolastoqey content creator. You can see more Ann's Eye pieces by clicking here.
Olivier Soumis's green canvas tent sits in the middle of the frozen St. Lawrence River, providing a stark pop of colour against the muted tones of the snow and the open water in the distance.
A debate over how to adjudicate Treaty 4 rights was at the core of a federal court hearing in Manitoba this week.
Kael Flynn is the scion of a Saskatoon fashion dynasty, but the 22-year-old is more concerned with perfecting his curveball than selling suits.
The Regina Humane Society celebrated its first year in its new building on Saturday.
Beekeepers in Alberta's Peace region are watching nervously as the threat of a trade war looms.
In a world of shrinking margins and shuttered breweries, the last thing the craft beer industry in British Columbia needs is a tariff pushing up the price of the humble beer can.
Hamilton and the surrounding area is under a winter storm warning as up to 25 centimetres of snow is expected to accumulate Sunday, says Environment Canada.
With snow hammering Toronto overnight Saturday, Environment Canada is warning that the heaviest snowfall is still to come and travel conditions could "rapidly deteriorate" Sunday morning.