Zimeng CHEN

YOUTH
Travelled to the United States at age 13 to play prep hockey at Brooks School in North Andover, MA. He continued to play in junior teams in the United States and Canada, including with the Cowichan Valley Capitals in British Columbia, where his father is a majority owner. He became the second Chinese player to play NCAA Division 1 hockey with the University of Alabama-Huntsville when he received a full scholarship in 2018. However, the following he dropped out to focus on preparing for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

"I made the varsity team, but there were no other Asian players. Compared to my teammates, I was at a huge disadvantage in speed, strength, and knowledge of the game. What’s worse, I broke my leg shortly after I joined the team. After entering college, I encountered an even bigger challenge, more serious than physical limits or injuries: competition was more intense, and I didn’t get much of a chance to play. I was under great pressure; I began to doubt myself and even thought about quitting." (news.cgtn.com, 27 Dec 2020; thebeijinger.com, 7 Dec 2021)

FIGHTER
Met former UFC women's strawweight champion Zhang Weili (CHN) in March 2021.

PLAYING CAREER
University of Alabama-Huntsville, USA (2018-19); KRS-BSU Beijing, CHN (2019); Tsen Tou Jilin, CHN (2019-20); Kunlun Red Star, CHN (2021- )

© Data by Sports Data Warehouse

Most penalised player at the 2015 U18 World Championship IIB, recording 45 minutes in the penalty box.

United States Premier Hockey League U18 champion in 2016.