Craig Berube and the Maple Leafs gave a team from the Far East a close-up of their north-south hockey strategy on Monday.
As the Leafs went through their practice paces, members of the Chinese men’s national team were watching intently from the stands at the Ford Performance Centre. The players and staff are on an exhibition tour of North America before returning for the Asian Winter Games, Feb. 4-14, in Harpin, China, in its most northerly province.
They’re coached by 73-year-old Alberta-born Perry Pearn, whose various jobs around the world have included several NHL teams, Canada’s national junior progran and the Japanese national team. Pearn is in his first year of working with the Chinese to play some catch-up.
To date they’ve played the University of Windsor (a close 4-2 defeat), Nipissing University (a 5-0 loss) and later this month have a controlled scrimmage against Brock and games against Fredonia, N.Y. in Niagara Falls, concluding with Metro Toronto University at the Mattamy Centre.
“We’ll be in Division 1B, right in the middle of pack, close enough that if we play really well, we could finish in the medals,” Pearn said. “I don’t think we’re quite ready to win our division and move up yet (to 1A) but I like to think we’re competitive enough to do it in the next few years.”
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There are 14 teams involved in the Asian Games’ hockey event, part of a mini-Olympics. The top group is led by Kazakhstan, Japan, South Korea and China, with India, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong included. Pearn’s team ranges from a couple of juniors in their late teens to the majority in their mid-20s and two in their early 30s.
“It’s really good for them to see this practice because they’re not exposed much to what’s happening in North America,” Pearn said. “To see the pace, the passing and understand we’re demanding the same thing from them as the coaches here would. It’s part of coming here and seeing the culture.”
Pearn’s connections to the Leafs — he once coached team president Brendan Shanahan with the New York Rangers and played hockey with Shane Doan’s father – helped facilitate Monday’s visit. Shanahan brought the whole tour group into the dressing room after practice.
The Chinese women’s team is visiting Canada as well.
“The (government) clearly wants hockey to be better there,” Pearn said. “They’ve developed a pro league and hope the game continues to grow.”
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