Welcome to the NHL, Zehao Sun.
Sort of.
The 21-year-old Chinese national team goaltender, who also goes by the name ‘Taylor,’ was signed to an amateur tryout contract by the Vancouver Canucks on Monday, in advance of the team’s games in Shanghai and Beijing this week.
#Canucks have signed Chinese goaltender Zehao (Taylor) Sun to an amateur tryout contract for the NHL China games. pic.twitter.com/ztOi19Grpm
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 18, 2017
Sun will serve as the Canucks’ third-string goaltender, and will participate in practices. And who knows, maybe if there’s a last minute injury he could even suit up for a game, Matt Hewitt style.
The #Canucks have landed in Shanghai pic.twitter.com/TVjI2oN6HC
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 18, 2017
The Canucks arrived in Shanghai on Monday, flying in style on the most luxurious charter plane in the world.
They appear to already be endearing themselves to the locals with the addition of a Chinese player, as well as posting some messages in Chinese on social media recently.
温哥华加人队很高兴地宣布与22岁的孙泽浩在NHL 中国赛期间签订试训合同。作为中国国家队主力的孙泽浩将在温哥华加人队担任第三门将，在首届NHL中国赛期间担任替补。#NHLChinaGames
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 18, 2017
The Canucks are also on the Chinese social media channels WeChat and Weibo. During the NHL/NHLPA media tour in New York earlier this month, over 30 players, including Canucks defenceman Chris Tanev, used those social platforms to greet China in Chinese.
Players also tried mooncakes and participated in the ‘hockey puck challenge,’ stacking hockey pucks in 30 seconds with chopsticks.
Image: NHL
The Canucks and Kings will play the first-ever NHL preseason game in China on Thursday in Shanghai.