China Sharks
| China Dragon | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City |  Harbin, Qiqihar and Shanghai |
| League | Asia League Ice Hockey |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Home arena | Sports Center Pavilion, Harbin |
| Colors | Red, Yellow |
| Owner(s) | Zhao Yinggang |
| Head coach | Araki Keisuke |
| Captain | Zhang Weiyang |
| Website | http://www.chinaicehockey.net |
| Franchise history | |
| 2004–2006 | Qiqihar |
| 2006–2007 | Changchun Fuao |
| 2004–2006 | Harbin |
| 2006–2007 | Hosa |
| 2007–2009 | China Sharks |
| 2009–present | China Dragon |
The China Dragon (Chinese: 中国龙队) is a professional ice hockey team playing home games in three different cities in China, including Harbin, Qiqihar and Shanghai. The team is currently a member of Asia League Ice Hockey. The team was formed in 1954 as two different clubs, Harbin and Qiqihar, as part of the China League. In 2004 the clubs joined Asia League Ice Hockey and in 2007 they merged into a single club, China Sharks, backed by the National Hockey League's San Jose Sharks, for financial reasons. The team was renamed the China Dragon in 2009 when San Jose pulled out.
The China Dragon began their history as two separate teams, both playing in China.
Qiqihar Ice hockey team was founded in 1954 and captured 28 championships in the China League. Their mascot was the snow leopard. The team joined Asia League Ice Hockey in the 2004–2005 season. They played out of the Qiqihar Gymnasium. The season was opened in the two Chinese rinks. They played 42 games in their initial season only winning a single game and finished in last place with four points. Their only win came against fellow Chinese team, Harbin. They gave up a staggering 326 goals while only managing to score 53.Fu Nan led his team in scoring with eight goals. Liu Henan had eight assists and 14 points. The team also gave up the most short handed goals while being the only team who didn't score any. The team rotated coaches from game to game rather than have a single coach lead the team for the season. The team had three import players on the roster, but only two of them each played a single game during the season.
As part of the Nordic Vikings entry into the league, Qiqihar sent three players to play on their team for the 2005–2006 season. In return, the Vikings provided three players, a coach and an official to Qiqihar. While improving on their first year's showing, the team still finished in last place with 11 points. With the schedule reduced to 38 games, the team gave up 278 goals while scoring 61. Their success came mainly against Harbin, but they managed an overtime loss to Kangwon Land from South Korea who were playing in their first season. The team stopped fielding their Swedish exchange players after their November 28, 2005 game against Anyang Halla. However, Anders Westerlund continued to coach the team until the end of the season. The team was led in scoring by Jayden Der with 11 goals and 15 points. Guo Xin had the most assists with nine. For the second year in a row the team gave up the most short handed goals while being the only team not to score one.
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