Team China is coming to Lac La Biche.
The Portage College Voyageurs men’s hockey team is hosting China’s national men’s team for two East vs. West friendly exhibition games over the January 23 weekend. And you’re invited!
The games – with free general admission – will take place on the Voyageurs’ home ice at Lac La Biche’s Bold Centre on Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24. The puck drops for the Friday night game at 7 pm. The Saturday afternoon matinee starts at 1 pm.
The Lac La Biche games are part of a two-week tour that will see the Chinese national squad play seven games against five teams in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference between January 27 and February 5. The Chinese team will be hosted by the Augustana Vikings, the Voyageurs, the Briercrest College Clippers, and the Concordia Thunder during the visit. The Chinese team departs Canada on February 7. The full schedule of games is available at the ACAC website.
Free to watch or Pay-per-View
The Lac La Biche games are free to attend thanks to support from Britton’s Your Independent Grocer in Lac La Biche.
Fans who want to livestream all seven matchups can pay $20.15 for a subscription to acactv.ca
It’s a great way for student-athletes to compete against international athletes, says Portage College Athletics and Recreation Manager Jim Knight, adding that it’s also a chance for community members to see international hockey up close.
“It’s an opportunity to see something unique in our communities,” says Knight, who is also the president of the ACAC. “It connects our communities to the world stage, and lets the world see how great our communities are.”
The Chinese national team is part of the International Ice Hockey Federation and has been ranked as high as 15th in the world. The team represented the People’s Republic of China at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where they finished 12th. The 2025 season saw them ranked in 25th place in Group B of the IIHF World Championship Division 1.
The Chinese national team is currently coached by Perry Pearn, the former coach of the NAIT Ooks and former assistant coach for several NHL teams including the Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens, and New York Rangers. Pearn has also been an assistant coach for the Canadian national junior team.
Come out and cheer for the teams!