The Beijing Winter Olympics ice hockey arena is not only a contest between the world's giants, but also an old friends association of Kunlun Hongxing. Seven star players from five national teams returned to China. Unlike the outbreak of the Dragons' strikers during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the Kunlun Hongxing veterans who were included in the lineup of this Winter Olympic team are the defensive core of the team.
/Monus-Helberg/
Sweden goalkeeper
Winter Olympic experience: 1 session
Played for Kunlun Hongxing: 2017-18 season
In the summer of 2017, Helberg, who was about to enter the golden period of his career, joined Kunlun Hongxing from the North American arena. That season, he played nearly 90% of the games for Chinese clubs in the KHL field, scoring a staggering 92.6% of the saves, becoming the fastest goalkeeper in the league. The following season, Helberg was bought at a high price by European giants St. Petersburg. He played for the Blues for three years and almost touched the championship Gagarin Cup.
The state of the ups and downs is small, good at playing key battles, which is the advantage of the Swedish door god. Four years ago, he followed Sweden to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics as a goalkeeper, but did not get a chance to play. Now back in China, Dahe, who has already achieved fame, will be the first goalkeeper trusted by the Swedish team.
/Arturs-Kulda/
Latvian defender
Nearly 1.90 meters tall, tall and handsome Kurda has always been the defensive darling of the Latvian team.
At the age of 16, he became a member of the National Youth U18 team. Over the past 18 years, he has played almost all major international tournaments for Latvia, including six World Youth Championships, eight World Championships, two Winter Olympic qualifying tournaments and one Winter Olympic Main Event (Sochi 2014). Since the Latvian national team failed to win the ticket to Pyeongchang four years ago, Kurda's trip to Beijing is his return to the Winter Olympics eight years later.
In the summer of 2017, Kurda, who played in the KHL League with Ufa and the Joker for four consecutive seasons, was called up by coach Keenan and joined the Kunlun Hongxing squad. In the second half of the season, he left the team before the end of the regular season due to poor injury. That season, he played 47 games, scored 6 points, had an efficiency value of -9, and failed to meet expectations.
/Marek-Daloga/
Slovak defender
1.94 meters of Daloga, humble and understated. He is one of the tallest defenders in the history of Kunlun Hongxing. Small skills and one-on-one ability allow Daloga to take on the core responsibilities of defense in the team, doing dirty work and playing key game times.
As Bratislava withdrew from the KHL league, team owner Daloga made Kunlun Hongxing his new owner. In the 2017-18 season, he made 34 appearances. Mid-season injuries limited the Slovak star's play. Leaving the Star Team, Daloga switched from different Europa Leagues, but his position in the national team was very solid, and he once took on the role of captain. Over the past eight years, he has participated in four World Championships and one Winter Olympics. At the Beijing Winter Olympics, perhaps his last appearance in international competitions.
/Thomas Kundratke/
Czech defender
Winter Olympic experience: 1 time
Played for Kunlun Hongxing: 2018-19 season
In the slightly bland 2018-19 season, playing 25 games for Kunlun Hongxing in a low profile, there are not many Chinese fans who can remember Kundrateck. The physically strong, offensive and defensive defender entered the North American career system at the age of 19. After accumulating 30 NHL games and nearly 300 AHL games, he settled in the KHL League. From Riga, to Bratislava, to torpedo, he joined the star squad in 2018 and became the core of the back line. Injuries left him with only half a season of performance before retiring.
Compared with the ups and downs of the professional arena, Kundrateck has been an indispensable figure for the national team in the past six years, two world championships, one Winter Olympics, one World Cup, and the key battles of the Czech Legion have always been fought hard by Kun.
/Adam Clarknell/
Canadian Team Defender
Winter Olympic experience: 0 sessions
Played for Kunlun Hongxing: 2019-20 season
Clarknell, 36, is on the verge of quitting professional circles. Lao Ke, who has never joined the national team and has never played any international matches, entered the lineup of the Maple Leaf Army this time somewhat unexpectedly.
Clarknell, who is more than 1.90 meters tall, is an all-round warrior. There are both ferocious interceptions and collisions, as well as exciting blue-line bursts. A perfect professional resume and a good professional demeanor made him a defensive leader and the second captain of the team soon after joining the Star Team. In the 2019-20 season, he played all the games and scored 24 points, which was highly praised. At the moment of the outbreak, Kunlun Hongxing regrettably missed the playoffs. Back in the North American league, he is still in hot form, playing 53 points in 67 games in AHL in two years. Putting on the Winter Olympics robe this time is the greatest recognition of his dedication and hard work.
/Simon-Gerubets/
Czech team goalkeeper
Played for Kunlun Hongxing: 2019-20, 20-21 seasons
Some people say that kunlun hongxing is the petri dish of top goalkeepers, and Khrubets is a case in point. Joining a Chinese club in the 2019-20 season was the first time in Hlubitz's life that he left his homeland. Previously, he worked in the Czech League for ten years and once represented the national team at the World Championships. That season, Lao He and the current Chinese team leader Smith formed a competitive goalkeeper double starting mechanism. With 32 appearances and 93.2% of saves, the Czech goalkeeper has gained a foothold in the world's top league.
In the season accompanied by the epidemic, Khrubets continued to play steadily in the Hongxing team. In the middle of the season, the vanguard, which desperately needed a goalkeeper, transferred him away. The next legend is that Lao He is brave all the way to help the new owner win the championship. He has a 95.3 percent save rate in the playoffs.
In the spotlight, Khrubets is also liberated in the national team, last year he was the starting goalkeeper of the Czech Republic World Championships, and we will also see his brave figure in front of the Goal of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
/Vojdech-Mozik/
Winter Olympic experience 1 session
Played for Kunlun Hongxing: 2020-21 season
At 1.90 meters tall, Mozik stands well and plays pharaoh. Four years ago, he was a member of the Czech Legion at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, completing two assists in six games.
After a short gold rush in North America, the 25-year-old Mozik returned to Europe to play for the KHL Warriors and then the Swedish league Karlstad. Halfway through last season, Kunlun Hongxing's defensive line was seriously injured, and Mozik was quickly called up. He quickly adapted to the new team, scoring 10 points in 23 games. This season, Lao Mo was retained by the Admirals, the sworn enemies of the Hongxing Far East, and became the opponent of the Dragon Team. Half of the current players in the Chinese national team have worked with Mozik.