Lac La Biche hockey fans are in for something rare. The Chinese national men’s hockey team is coming to town next week for two games against the Portage College Voyageurs, bringing international competition to the Bold Centre.

Two Games on Home Ice

The games will be played on the Voyageurs’ home ice at the Bold Centre on Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24.

• Friday night: Puck drops at 7 pm

• Saturday matinee: Puck drops at 1 pm

Both games are open to the public and free to attend.

Part of a Province-Wide Tour

The Lac La Biche stop is part of a two-week Alberta tour that will see the Chinese national team play seven games against five Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) teams between January 27 and February 5.

During their Canadian visit, the team will face:

• Augustana Vikings

• Portage College Voyageurs

• Briercrest College Clippers

• Concordia Thunder

The team is scheduled to depart Canada on February 7.

Free to Attend, Pay-per-View Option Available

All seven games on the tour are free for fans to attend in person. For those who want to watch remotely, the games will be livestreamed on ACAC TV, with a full-tour subscription available for $20.15 at acactv.ca. The full schedule can also be found on the ACAC website.

A Unique Opportunity for Athletes and Fans

Portage College Athletics and Recreation Manager Jim Knight says the tour offers something special for both student-athletes and the wider community.

“It’s an opportunity to see something unique in our communities,” Knight said. “It connects our communities to the world stage, and lets the world see how great our communities are.”

Knight also serves as president of the ACAC.

About the Chinese National Team

The Chinese national men’s team competes under the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and has previously ranked as high as 15th in the world. The team represented the People’s Republic of China at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, finishing 12th overall.

During the 2025 season, the team was ranked 25th in Group B of the IIHF World Championship Division 1.

The team is coached by Perry Pearn, a familiar name in Canadian hockey circles. Pearn is a former head coach of the NAIT Ooks and has served as an assistant coach in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens, and New York Rangers. He has also worked with Canada’s national junior team.

For Lac La Biche, the upcoming games offer a rare chance to see international hockey talent without leaving town.