Ice hockey is not yet a popular sport in China, but the birth of HC Kunlun Red Star, the first Chinese club competing in one of the world’s top ice hockey leagues, might just change that.

On June 25, witnessed by the heads of state of China and Russia, HC Kunlun Red Star signed a deal with the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), which allowed the Chinese club to join KHL, one of the world's top professional hockey leagues. Beijing and Shanghai will jointly host 30 club games this season.

At present, HC Kunlun Red Star is ranked seventh in the league's eastern conference, and the team's members are continuously improving. On Oct. 27, team member Yuan Junjie scored a historic winning goal for the team. Meanwhile, the team’s exciting performance has caused many Chinese spectators to fall in love with the sport.

The Chinese players have inspired young people around the country to explore ice hockey. In 2016, the number of people playing ice hockey increased to 3,000 in China, and there are more than 10 ice hockey clubs in Beijing alone.

"We are willing to be the pioneers, promoting professional ice hockey in China. Kunlun Red Star will always contribute to the development of China's winter sports," said Liao Zhiyu, the president of the club.

Ever since Beijing and Zhangjiakou won the bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics, domestic attention paid to winter sports has been growing. Interest in ice hockey, a relatively accessible and fast-paced winter sport, has naturally been increasing.