2022 Winter Olympics can inspire ice hockey in China: U18 coach

Digit Murphy, head coach of the Chinese women's U18 ice hockey team [File Photo: thepaper.cn]

The head coach for the Chinese women's U18 ice hockey team is suggesting her team only needs 2 or 3 years to make an impact in the sport, reports thepaper.cn.

Margaret Degidio Murphy, better known as Digit Murphy, says she believes ice hockey has the potential to become popular in China, provided the country puts up economic support to bolster the talent pool. 

Murphy says one of the problems China is facing is a lack of interest in women's ice hockey, as there is no professional league. 

Murphy suggests that China can learn from the United States' experience and draft players from other sports such as basketball, suggesting it won't take long to train them and build a high-performing team. 

Murphy also thinks the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games can draw more fans and players into ice hockey. 

China's U18 women's national team was officially established last July for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. 

The young team is competing against 5 other teams this week in Poland for a chance at making it to the World Championships.