KUNMING REPORT:
(Slash - Spear - Punch the Ref!!!)

We got invited to Kunming for tournament arranged by Hong Kong Ice
Hockey Association. At first we had Ray, Yanni and Tom Cummings going.
After some convincing from Ray that this would be great tournament, with
IIHF rules (checking), I and Saad decided to join. Long story short, one
of original three who wanted to go got stuck at the school yard Chinese
construction workers with, one heard that we are playing against national
team players (you figure the rest...) and one is unsolved mystery. At
one point we also had Scott going, but he also got stuck with his work.
Any how, I and Saad went to Kunming to join the team which at the end
got name "Asian Tourists"... Our team was put together by Keith Fong
from Hong Kong. Name makes sense with the team. Two foreigners from
Beijing, couple of Honk Kong natives, couple Canadians living in Hong
Kong, five Mongolians from Ulaan Baatar. For same games we also "rented"
other players.

Kunming had a week before tournament development camp for kids from Asia
and tournament was arranged right after the camp. Some of the players
were at the camp and joined their teams afterwards.

Game 1 vs HK Red - we won 3-2

We got maybe too easily three goals lead quite early and started to take
it easy. Suddenly HK scored two goals and were breathing on our neck.
Fortunately our Mongolian 16 year old goalie did great job in the end
and we won the game.

Game 2 vs Harbin (not Ping Chuan) - we lost 4-0

Team from Harbin didn't really give us many changes to score. They
played quite disciplined and almost organized hockey. I think we had
maybe 5 or 6 shots on goal.

Game 3 vs India - we won 12-2

Team India had just kids 13 to 16 years in their team so they got some
help from other teams to at least fill up the team. They also had two 13
years old girls playing. This was a game we wanted to just take it easy
and let Indians also have fun. Suddenly score was up to 12 and we hit
the brakes. Whole Team India is from Leh where they have ice just for
couple of months a year.

Game 4 vs Chang Chun - we lost 15-5

Our last game and we had no change. This must be physically biggest team
in China. They were well organized had a Chinese sense of humor on ice.
Chang Chun won the tournament.

Couple of incidents that shows that there is A LOT of room for
improvement when it comes to fair play.

Incident 1 - Game between Harbin Ping Chuan (team that wears yellow
jerseys) and Chang Chun. It was a good pace to start of the game. Chang
Chun got the first penalty of the game for Interference. Harbin
followed with one them selves for charging. They took the second
penalty - double minor for roughing as one of the Harbin players punched
and face washed one of the Chang Chun players. On the ensuing power
play, with just a few seconds left in the first period, one of the
Harbin players ran a Chang Chun player and he too was sent off for
boarding. It was only 1-0 for Chang Chun at that time. The player, who
was already serving the roughing call, came out of the penalty box and
started to yell at the referee. He skated away not knowing or
understanding what the player was saying, however, he pulled referees
jersey and wouldn't let go until another player had to restrain him.
Referee could have given him a game misconduct but gave him the benefit
of the doubt and only gave him a 10 min. misconduct. During this time
(intermission), the Harbin coach came over to the penalty box screaming
at referee. He talk to the captain instead as he was much calmer and
sensible. However, just as the second period was about to start, the
player who got the 10 min. misconduct, just found out what he was given,
got furious and skated out and pulled the whole team away and saying
they were forfeiting and leaving. The whole bench came over and started
to threaten referee, thinking that he was calling off the game or
something. One player tried to attack him with his stick but
fortunately was restrained. As they skated off, a bystander was saying
how unreasonable the Harbin team was and a fight erupted. Then another
player attacked one of the organizers and he too had to be restrained.
With the attention focused out side of the rink, the Harbin goaltender
went up behind the referee a sucker punched him in the face. When things
settled down, the Chang Chun team assisted and escorted both referees
back to hotel. The Harbin team apparently withdrew from the tournament
afterwards.

Incident 2 - game between HK Red and Hongta. It was only 5 minutes into
the game when the player/coach of Hongta took the game's only 2 original
penalty. The Hongta player nailed a HK Red player in the head with his
stick and punched him in the face. Again, enough reason to be ejected
out of the game however, referee gave him the benefit of the doubt and
served him with only a couple of minors. On the power play, the Hongta
player was acting pretty crazy in the penalty box, and was jumping up
and down. As one of the HK players skated on the side, the Hongta
player, who was still in the box, punched the HK player. Referee skated
quickly over and told him to keep his hands to himself; however he
nailed the referee in the side of the head with his butt end. Another
inch lower and the referee would be eating soup for few weeks. You can
probably imagine what's going through my mind. However, the referee in
Chief Mr. Fu, ordered the Hongta player to leave but he wouldn't and
pulled his team out. A few of the guys on the Hongta team wanted to stay
and said the player/coach was crazy. Game was resumed after a 30
minutes.

In both incidents, none of the players went to apologize. Referees did
however, got a formal apology from the Hongta GM.

Yoko