The Fire Phoenix ice hockey team is training in the game. Photo by Xie Yu
China News Network Yinchuan, January 5 Title: Ningxia Yinfa Ice Hockey Team: Pursuing "Fast and Furious" on the Ice
Author Yang Di Li Ka Shing
In the harsh winter of March 9, the cold wind is fierce, and the pedestrians are in a hurry. In a business district in Yinchuan City, Ningxia, a group of uncles with two sideburns and some white spots carried nearly 30 kilograms of packages into the ice rink, and a fierce competition was about to begin.
"Good ball! strike! With the sound of hockey sticks tapping, a shout seemed to completely "ignite" the ice.
This ice hockey team is called "Fire Phoenix", there are more than 20 team members, the average age is about 50 years old, police, teachers and other ice hockey enthusiasts from all walks of life gather together, every Tuesday on time to meet the ice rink, the harsh winter and heat as always.
The Fire Phoenix ice hockey team has been in history for more than half a century. "My father was a native of Beijing, and after graduating from Beijing Sport University in the early days of the founding of New China, he responded to the call of the state to support the Great Northwest and formed this 'Fire Phoenix' ice hockey team with ice hockey enthusiasts from Liaoning, Hebei, Beijing and other places who came together." Park Yang, the current captain of the "Fire Phoenix" ice hockey team, said.
Fire Phoenix Ice Hockey Team. Photo by Xie Yu
Due to the limited conditions in the early days of the establishment, before the appearance of the indoor ice rink, the members of the "Fire Phoenix" ice team could only meet in the winter on the frozen lake in the park. "At that time, everyone didn't have mobile phone contact, but as long as it snowed, they would gather on the lake from all sides to sweep the snow and play ball together." Park Yang recalled that the simplicity of the conditions could not stop their love of ice hockey, and this persistence was decades.
In recent years, the "Fire Phoenix" ice hockey team has attracted a group of players who are nearly half a hundred years old, but still eager to pursue "Fast and Furious" on the ice. Because of the fierceness of the upper grab and the active attack, the team member Ma Wei got a resounding nickname - "Hummer". Ma Wei told reporters that ice hockey is a sport with fierce collisions, which sometimes brings injuries to the body, but after recuperation, he will continue to return to the ice, "The biggest charm of ice hockey is that you can't give up." Ma Wei said.
With the Beijing Winter Olympics approaching, ice and snow sports are being widely carried out everywhere. In July this year, the "Fire Phoenix" ice hockey team was invited by the Qiqihar Ice Association to participate in the amateur adult ice hockey league. In order to participate in this competition, the "Fire Phoenix" ice hockey team organized a two-month training camp and won two victories in the group stage, which impressed the other teams in the three eastern provinces.
"In 2022, many teams in Beijing have already issued invitations to us, and after the Winter Olympics, we will also go to other places to participate in their invitational matches. It is hoped that 'Fire Phoenix' can communicate with all adult ice hockey teams in the country and make due contributions to the ice and snow sports in Ningxia and even the whole country." Park Yang said.
Bumping, falling, hitting the goal, sprinting, and protecting the ball again and again, these silver-haired "old boys" burst out with a youthful atmosphere and vitality that did not match their age with their enthusiasm for ice hockey. "Pass! Hit the door! "The shouts from the helmets and the rubbing of the skates on the ice intertwined, reverberating over the ice rink for a long time... (End)