Young ice hockey players in Xinjiang fight for bigger arena

(ECNS) -- Outdoor temperatures have dropped to over -20℃ in Fuyun County, Altay Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. On the local gym's outdoor rink, a group of 12- and 13-year-olds play ice hockey in protective gear.

In 2013, some officials from Heilongjiang Province worked in Xinjiang, finding that local children was suitable for practicing ice hockey. The ice hockey project was then introduced to cultivate the ice hockey talents in Xinjiang.

"What I'm particularly interested in is team spirit. With conditions improving, I hope more children would join the sport. We hope to have a hockey team in every school, and become a professional team that could compete internationally," said Zhou Xiaofeng, the coach of the Fuyun youth hockey team.