Pucksters back in the big time

Team China players celebrate with the trophy after winning the IIHF Division I Group A World Championship tournament in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. [Photo/Xinhua]

China promoted back to top division of women's game after 14-year absence

Some tears, a lot of sweat and a deep sense of pride. It's been 14 years in the making, but the Chinese women's ice hockey team is finally back in the big league after securing a long-awaited return to the world championship's top division.

And they did so in some style, dominating last week's IIHF Division I Group A World Championship in Shenzhen, Guangdong province with a perfect 5-0 record to earn promotion to the top flight next year.

The winning streak on home ice at the second-tier I-A tournament ended the team's absence from the top echelon after its last appearance there in 2009.

Captain Yu Baiwei is the only player in the current squad that remains from that 2009 side, and she couldn't hold back the tears after her unwavering efforts over a decade paid off.

"It's been so long and so tough that I had almost given up hope of getting back again. I am so happy that I didn't lose faith and we did it. I am over the moon now," Yu, a 35-year-old defender, said in an emotional postgame interview after Team China beat Austria 2-0 on Thursday to secure promotion with a match to spare.

"I really appreciate our whole team's efforts as one. I want to thank my teammates for helping me make it all worthwhile after spending so many tough years struggling and trying hard.

"It paves the way for us to go for qualification for the 2026 Winter Olympics and we won't stop here for sure," added Yu, who made her national team debut in 2005 at 17.

The I-A championship in Shenzhen involved four other teams — the group's highest-ranked Denmark (11th), Norway, world No 15 Slovakia and the Netherlands.

Team China, who just climbed up from the third-tier I-B tournament last year, opened with a 1-0 victory over Slovakia on Aug 20. Then came an inspirational 5-3 comeback win against Norway before a stunning 4-2 triumph against championship favorite Denmark on Wednesday in what was arguably the highlight of China's campaign.

A 2-1 victory over the Dutch in the final match on Saturday kept the host unbeaten on home ice, while the Danes clinched the second promotion spot with a 4-1 rout of Norway to finish runner-up in Shenzhen.

"I am extremely proud of this whole group. It took everybody to pull this off," said Team China forward Lin Qiqi, known as Leah Lum in her native Canada.

"We fought hard this entire time. We've been here for so long and we deserve to be back in the main group," added Lin, who scored the vital first goal for Team China late in the second period against Austria.

The Chinese and Danes will be up against the world's heavyweights, such as Canada, the United States and Finland, at the 10-team top division tourney at Utica, New York in April next year.

For captain Yu, the return will also allow her to renew rivalries with some of her old foes — legendary Canadian forward Marie-Philip Poulin and her teammate Rebecca Johnston, and Sweden's long-serving goaltender Sara Grahn — the only three pucksters from the rest of the world still playing who competed in 2009 with Yu.

Now set to rejoin those hardy veterans, Yu said the promotion has given her extra motivation to continue her career.

"I am not done yet. As long as I am playing, I will try to deliver my best performances on the ice," she said.