Chinese Olympians dazzle Dobson

Hockey team takes on Colorado All-Stars before energetic and enthusiastic crowd

Vail The public announcement came over the public address system at Dobson Arena before the exhibition game between the Chinese women's Olympic hockey team and the Colorado All-Stars Tuesday night.

And, with that, women from opposite sides of the world got together on the same sheet of ice to play a game.

Not surprisingly, the Chinese team rolled to 13-0 victory. More important, though, was the experience. The Chinese dazzled a near-full house and the Colorado team with its skill. Memories were also made with both teams exchanging T-shirts, autographs and smiles as well as posing for photographs throughout the evening.

"It was so much fun. It's such a great honor to just be able to play them," said Colorado's Leah O'Brien, a 17 year-old defenseman who lives in Edwards and plays for the Colorado Extreme U-19 team. "I was so surprised. We had so many people out there. It was amazing. It was so nice to see that there were so many people supporting us."

The Chinese women's Olympic team arrived Sunday in Vail and has been training here in preparation for the Olympics next month at Salt Lake City. Training at 8,000 feet is good preparation, according to China's lead head coach Yao Naifeng.

"Coming here and training here is good preparation for our Olympic games," Yao said through the team's interpreter, Yang Dong. "We came here because Vail is in high land, the altitude is much higher than in Salt Lake City. Secondly, Vail is a friendly city for Harbin. We come here as part of exchange."

The Vail Breakaways women's team, some of whom played in Tuesday's game, visited Harbin a few years before on a cultural exchange trip. Tuesday's game was a continuation of that relationship.

"Actually it's a friendship game," Yao said. "The most important thing for us is keeping our friendship with the people in Vail."

The Chinese team showed why it finished fourth in the 1998 Winter Games and sixth in the recent World Championships. The team wowed the crowd with speed, great passing, puckhandling and shooting.

"Their passing is unreal. Their passing is probably what killed us," said Joni Coughlin, who usually suits up for the Breakaways. "You can tell that they've played together for years and we had a half a practice and that was it. I think their passing is actually what was the best. Just awesome."

Goals came from up and down China's bench. Forwards Hu Chunrong, Zhang Jing and Sun Rui led the way with two goals each. In all, China outshot Colorado 53-13.

That meant that Colorado All-Stars goalie Mary Cheney, the daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, was very busy between the pipes. Though the game was lopsided, Cheney made many exceptional saves.

"It's a great privilege to be able to come out and play here with an Olympic caliber team," Cheney said. "It's just fun to watch them play with each other. They're great at passing and shooting. They're a great team.

"Really, you try to focus on what's happening right there. You're not thinking, 'I've got 40 minutes left,' or thinking about the last goal. You're just focusing on what's happening right there."

"Any other goalie, it would have been 30-0 easy," Coughlin said. "She was so solid. I don't know how many shots she had. Mary really kept us respectable."

Understandably, Colorado was a bit nervous, especially early in the game. After all, it's not everyday that local players hit the ice against a team that it will be seeing on TV during the Olympics.

"I was shaking. I couldn't breathe. I was hyperventilating," Coughlin said with a laugh. "I used to play in a men's league and, in my mind, I said I was playing a men's team in my mind. That's what settled me down."

The All-Stars did get their legs and produced some good moments. The local contingent of O'Brien, Coughlin, Yodi Borg and Alice Plain was heartily supported by the crowd. Cries of "Go, Yodi," or "Go, Joni," were heard regularly when players like Borg and Coughlin touched the puck.

Though the All-Stars didn't score a goal, they and the Chinese team got a standing ovation after the buzzer sounded, capping an exciting evening of women's hockey at Dobson.

It's exciting because having this many people, now we'll get them addicted to our Vail Breakaways and start coming to the Breakaways (games) because it is fun," Coughlin said. "People are seeing that women's hockey has come a long way and it's as much fun to watch as men's hockey."

The Vail Breakaways are next in action Saturday in Breckenridge, while the Chinese team heads to the Pepsi Center for Thursday's game against the United States team.



	Back Chinese Olympians dazzle Dobson Hockey team takes on Colorado All-Stars before energetic and enthusiastic crowd By Chris Freud Daily Sports Writer January 30, 2002 Vail The public announcement came over the public address system at Dobson Arena before the exhibition game between the Chinese women's Olympic hockey team and the Colorado All-Stars Tuesday night. "Boys and girls of all ages and cultures let's play hockey." And, with that, women from opposite sides of the world got together on the same sheet of ice to play a game. Not surprisingly, the Chinese team rolled to 13-0 victory. More important, though, was the experience. The Chinese dazzled a near-full house and the Colorado team with its skill. Memories were also made with both teams exchanging T-shirts, autographs and smiles as well as posing for photographs throughout the evening. "It was so much fun. It's such a great honor to just be able to play them," said Colorado's Leah O'Brien, a 17 year-old defenseman who lives in Edwards and plays for the Colorado Extreme U-19 team. "I was so surprised. We had so many people out there. It was amazing. It was so nice to see that there were so many people supporting us." The Chinese women's Olympic team arrived Sunday in Vail and has been training here in preparation for the Olympics next month at Salt Lake City. Training at 8,000 feet is good preparation, according to China's lead head coach Yao Naifeng. "Coming here and training here is good preparation for our Olympic games," Yao said through the team's interpreter, Yang Dong. "We came here because Vail is in high land, the altitude is much higher than in Salt Lake City. Secondly, Vail is a friendly city for Harbin. We come here as part of exchange." The Vail Breakaways women's team, some of whom played in Tuesday's game, visited Harbin a few years before on a cultural exchange trip. Tuesday's game was a continuation of that relationship. "Actually it's a friendship game," Yao said. "The most important thing for us is keeping our friendship with the people in Vail." The Chinese team showed why it finished fourth in the 1998 Winter Games and sixth in the recent World Championships. The team wowed the crowd with speed, great passing, puckhandling and shooting. "Their passing is unreal. Their passing is probably what killed us," said Joni Coughlin, who usually suits up for the Breakaways. "You can tell that they've played together for years and we had a half a practice and that was it. I think their passing is actually what was the best. Just awesome." Goals came from up and down China's bench. Forwards Hu Chunrong, Zhang Jing and Sun Rui led the way with two goals each. In all, China outshot Colorado 53-13. That meant that Colorado All-Stars goalie Mary Cheney, the daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, was very busy between the pipes. Though the game was lopsided, Cheney made many exceptional saves. "It's a great privilege to be able to come out and play here with an Olympic caliber team," Cheney said. "It's just fun to watch them play with each other. They're great at passing and shooting. They're a great team. "Really, you try to focus on what's happening right there. You're not thinking, 'I've got 40 minutes left,' or thinking about the last goal. You're just focusing on what's happening right there." "Any other goalie, it would have been 30-0 easy," Coughlin said. "She was so solid. I don't know how many shots she had. Mary really kept us respectable." Understandably, Colorado was a bit nervous, especially early in the game. After all, it's not everyday that local players hit the ice against a team that it will be seeing on TV during the Olympics. "I was shaking. I couldn't breathe. I was hyperventilating," Coughlin said with a laugh. "I used to play in a men's league and, in my mind, I said I was playing a men's team in my mind. That's what settled me down." The All-Stars did get their legs and produced some good moments. The local contingent of O'Brien, Coughlin, Yodi Borg and Alice Plain was heartily supported by the crowd. Cries of "Go, Yodi," or "Go, Joni," were heard regularly when players like Borg and Coughlin touched the puck. Though the All-Stars didn't score a goal, they and the Chinese team got a standing ovation after the buzzer sounded, capping an exciting evening of women's hockey at Dobson. It's exciting because having this many people, now we'll get them addicted to our Vail Breakaways and start coming to the Breakaways (games) because it is fun," Coughlin said. "People are seeing that women's hockey has come a long way and it's as much fun to watch as men's hockey." The Vail Breakaways are next in action Saturday in Breckenridge, while the Chinese team heads to the Pepsi Center for Thursday's game against the United States team.