Chen Tao (L) and Jiang Wen of Shicheng Ice Hockey Team compete during training in Shicheng, Ganzhou City of east China's Jiangxi Province, July 16, 2019. In Shicheng, a mountain-surrounded subtropical town of east China's Jiangxi Province, a bunch of fully equipped teenagers are sweating, training for their first national ice hockey game. For anyone who has not heard of the Shicheng Ice Hockey Team, if not shocked, it would at least take him some time to fully understand what is seen. There is no sight of ice in the their training hall at all. "In this town of southern China, we don't see real ice. In our daily training, the inline roller skates has served as a replacement to ice skates." said Wang Lijun, coach of the team, also a physical education teacher at the Third Elementary School of Shicheng County. Roller hockey, combining the convenience of roller skates and the unique fun of ice hockey as a confrontational sport, is sweeping Shicheng. "Shicheng is a small and remote county of Ganzhou, Jiangxi. Even so, we have seven roller hockey teams for now and the number of kids taking part in the sport has reached 110." said Wang, "We are not yet quite skilled, but given the students' passion to the sport, I believe the growth of ice hockey (roller hockey) in Shicheng is getting to a peak." In August, the Shicheng Ice Hockey Team, formed by middle and high school students around the county, would compete at the ice hockey event of 2nd National Youth Games, representing Jiangxi Province. Before that, they headed to the city of Ganzhou for adaptive training to transfer from roller hockey to ice hockey, where they played on the rink for the first time. "I'm looking forward to the coming games. He (coach) once told me that I might not be chosen for the games. I cried that day. I've practiced for a long time. I would feel sad if all the efforts saw no results. The games are full of uncertainties, but you have to try if there is a chance." said Wang Yuxin, 13-year-old, student of Class 13 Grade 7, Ganyuan Middle School. From roller skating to roller hockey then to ice hockey, Shicheng, supported by the local sports companies, planned to absorb all the inner-town schools into the process. The county's sports center is under modification. Later there will be the first ice hockey hall in Jiangxi Province. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)
