When 4-year-old Lin Qiqi followed in her brother's footsteps and began to contact ice hockey, she did not expect that one day she could represent China on the field of the Winter Olympics; when 13-year-old Lin Qiqi personally witnessed the ice hockey final of the Vancouver Winter Olympics at her doorstep, she did not think that one day she could represent China on the field of the Winter Olympics; and 25-year-old Lin Qiqi was waiting, on February 3, she would wear the Jersey of the Chinese team to compete in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
From college leagues to professional hundreds
In May 2018, Lin Qiqi, who had just graduated from university, flew to Shenzhen and appeared in the Olympic training camp of Shenzhen Kunlun Hongxing Ice Hockey Club, where Lin Qiqi's Shenzhen team won the championship in the first "Longgang Cup" women's ice hockey competition. Subsequently, Lin Qiqi officially joined the Shenzhen Kunlun Hongxing Vanke Sunshine Women's Ice Hockey Team, transforming from a college student into a female professional athlete.
In her four years of college, Lin represented the University of Connecticut in the NCAA for a total of 4 seasons, scoring 42 goals and 60 assists in 148 games, scoring 102 points, and serving as the team's vice captain in the last season, being an NCAA star player. However, the transition from the university league to the professional league is not an easy task, and in her first season with Shenzhen Vanke Sunshine, Lin Qiqi scored 4 goals and 6 assists in 28 games of the Canadian Women's Ice Hockey League (CWHL), contributing 10 points.
In the 2019-2020 season, Lin Qiqi was perfectly integrated, and in this team with national team players such as the United States and Finland, she scored 12 goals, 19 assists and 31 points in 33 games in the regular season and playoffs, helping the team win the Russian Women's Ice Hockey League (WHL) championship, and she was also selected for the league All-Star Game. The following season, the team failed to defend the championship due to the postponement of the finals due to the opponent's infection with the new crown. However, Lin Qiqi's performance is still efficient, with 9 goals, 18 assists and 27 points in 31 games.
Today, Lin Qiqi has represented Shenzhen Vanke Sunshine in 114 official games, with 32 goals, 55 assists and 87 points. Along the way, Lin Qiqi sighed a lot: "It is difficult to describe this journey in words. I am grateful that it was not easy in all respects, to be away from family and friends every year, but these experiences, travels, friendships, failures, joys, lessons of life, etc., make it all worthwhile. Kunlun Hongxing gave me an incredible opportunity to engage in the sport I love and make a living from it, and I couldn't ask for more. ”
It is a great honor to wear the captain's armband
The 2021-2022 season is Lin Qiqi's fourth season to join Shenzhen Vanke Sunshine, unlike previous seasons, due to the preparation for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the team's lineup has made major adjustments, all foreign aid from all countries have left the team, and only players who can represent the Chinese team in the Winter Olympics remain in the team. Among the 10 teams in the WHL League, Shenzhen Vanke Sunshine has the least league experience and is far behind other opponents, but the team still has a good record of 15 wins and 7 losses in 22 league rounds.
In Lin Qiqi's view, the first half of the league is very inspiring: "More because this is the Chinese national team in the game, I am proud to be in this team, we meet all the opponents to fight with all our strength, and against some strong teams can also win." 」 "In her opinion, it feels great to be able to compete with the top Russian athletes on the field, all the Chinese players are moving in the right direction, and to be able to see everyone's progress."
In the past six months, the team has been promoted in the run-in. Local players continue to find a sense of real combat in the game, college players also use their experience in the NCAA in professional games, while the veterans are still stable, Lin Qiqi contributed 7 goals, 12 assists and 19 points in 22 games, playing a good tandem role.
The 25-year-old is at the best of her hockey career, and she is an important force that the team can rely on on both inside and outside the arena, and head coach Brian Hidalski also handed her the vice-captain's armband. Lin Qiqi said that being able to represent China and her own blood in the Olympic Games is the greatest honor she can get. The letters of the vice-captain printed on the jersey are deeply honored and humbled, and hope to help the team succeed in the Olympic Games.
Participation in the Olympics is the biggest goal
Born on May 12, 1996 in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, her great-grandfather and great-grandmother were both Chinese. She also always keeps in mind the origin of the family, joining Shenzhen Kunlun Hongxing for the first two seasons, the team's home stadium is located in the Shenzhen Universiade Center, she has lived in Shenzhen Longgang for a long time: "I love Shenzhen. The weather and atmosphere of the city is unparalleled, and playing in front of so many fans is super awesome. ”
Talking about the four years of representing Shenzhen in the professional league, Lin Qiqi said, "In this journey with Kunlun Hongxing, the biggest and most realistic goal is to represent this country and my bloodline to participate in the Olympic Games, which will be the most special memory of my life." ”
With 12 days to go before the first match of the Chinese team in Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, in Lin Qiqi's view, if she can really represent the Chinese team on the Winter Olympics, it will be the finishing touch on this journey with Kunlun Hongxing, "I will feel very honored to represent China and my bloodline." My whole family will be very excited that I will be able to achieve my dreams. There are also my grandfathers, grandfathers, grandmothers and other relatives who have left, and they will be proud of me and cheer for us. ”
The Chinese team is the lowest in the world among the 10 women's hockey teams participating in the Winter Olympics, but in Lin's opinion: "If we can operate efficiently, I think we can perform in the group stage." It's going to be an exciting time and we have to seize the opportunity at hand and take advantage of every conversion, game by game. The Olympic Games are the biggest stage for athletes, and it is the most crucial thing to grasp the moment. ”