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COMPASS MAGAZINE, MAY 1999. VOL. 6 ISSUE 5

About Town:

Hockey Night in Taichung

By Aaron Bleasdale

The speed skaters have finished their final laps. The zamboni clears the ice. A slow, uneven procession begin filing into the chapel. This the holiest of places, for those who choose to make it so. It's hockey night in Taiwan.
You'd be surprised how many hockey players there are here in Taichung. Teachers, business representatives -- all with their gear tucked away in deep, dark, rank hideaways. Only to be brought out for the most special occasions.
Each of the pilgrims has lugged their almost-unbelievably bulky gear bags from around the world, just to play. Why? Because of that first smell you smell as you walk in the door. That ozone smell of artificial ice, of old, cold sweat. No matter how hard your day's been, everything else just disappears when that hockey smell first washes over you.
For a little over a year now, A1 Arena on Honan Road has been the home of Taichung's most unlikely form of foreigner recreation. Every Tuesday night between 9 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., people gather and play "the world's fastest game."
The evenings usually start with a little free warm-up and stretching. Then they move on to some more structured drills to work on fundamentals of the game. Then finally, after everyone's worked up a good sweat, it's time for a little "shinny" game. The player caliber varies as much as do the players' nationalities; there are guys from all other the world who play; even some brave Taiwanese lace-up their skates and get out there and play.
Sometimes it's all a bit messy, but it's always interesting. The games are full gear, though no contact is allowed, and it's not actually too hard to get yourself a set of gear. Most guys have theirs sent from home. Others have bought it mail-order, and still others have picked it all up second-hand here in-country.
The ice quality is poorer than what most are used to, but it's always playable and is much improved. There were times when the rink was covered in what seemed like a foot of water, but heck, it's a rink. And the fact that you can skate at all in a tropical country is nothing short of a minor miracle.
Most of the guys are regulars, others come sporadically, but there's always enough for a game. Some even play in the Chinese Ice Hockey League (CIHL), an eight -team, nationally-televised league. Games are split between A1 and the newly opened rink in Sanchung, just outside of Taipei. Believe it or not, hockey's making a go of it in Taiwan.
If you're interested in playing on Tuesday nights, or in the league, the rink is located on Honan Road, between Taichung Harbor Road and Ching Hai Road near Feng Chia University. There's a McDonald's in the same building so just follow the golden arches, that incomparable foreigner landmark. Or call Boris Djerjovic at (04)329-8250.