Former assistant coach Perry Pearn last coached in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks in 2017, however, that did not stop his hockey journey.
"After retiring from the NHL, I'd wound up working with the Canadian Women's national team (2018-2019)," Pearn said on the SportsCage.
"That led to an opportunity to go to Russia (2020-2021). When I came back from Russia, I was sitting out, not doing anything, and got hooked up with Japan (2022-2024) and coached them for two years. I think that's where China would have seen me do some coaching and reached out after I left, Japan, and here I am."
Pearn went into detail about how Japan and China position themselves in hockey regarding international play.
"We're fairly similar. You have the top 16 teams play in the World Championship, then right below that group the next six teams are called the 1A group, and then the six teams below are called the 1B group. We're in 1B, Japan currently is in 1A. Teams from 1A, every year, two of those teams go up, and they play in the Senior World Championships with Canada, the U.S.A., and Sweden," Pearn explained.
"Two teams come down, so there's relegation, and we're on the cusp of moving up to Division 1A. But we have some work to do."
Internationally Pearn showcased his skills with Team Canada during the 1990s. At the World Juniors, Pearn won three gold medals with Canada, two as an assistant coach in 1990 and 1991, and one as a head coach in 1993. The other gold medal was at the World University Games as an assistant coach in 1991.
Pearn's success wasn't all with Canada as he continued his winning ways in Japan. He helped them win the U20 IIHF World Championship Division 1B in 2023, which led to a promotion to 1A. There have been some challenges that Pearn has been dealing with in China regarding eligibility.
"They made a decision two years ago, they had a number of North Americans with dual passports who had represented them in the World Championships, and they said no more dual passports. We're going strictly if you have a Chinese passport, you can play, if you have another passport, you're out. Most of those players who played with dual passports passed on going strictly with a Chinese passport," Pearn said.
"The last two years we've been all Chinese players, and that's created a little bit of a depth problem. But I think that's starting to improve now, and that's part of being here too, it's to try and grow that depth. We have five kids with us that are 19 years old or younger. They've been playing and getting the experience of playing against the North American competition, big strong guys who finish checks, it's been really good for us."
Compared to Hockey Canada, Pearn explains some of the challenges faced by the Chinese Ice Hockey Association.
"Hockey Canada provides direction and leadership in terms of developing our young players and doing a pretty good job of it. In China, the federation doesn't have the same strength that Hockey Canada has. There are actually individual clubs that I think have more control than the actual Chinese Ice Hockey Association," Pearn said.
"They work hand in hand, but Beijing is going to do their thing with their development. Chi Chi Har is going to do their thing with their development. Harbin's doing their thing with their development. There isn't that overall consistency, top to bottom in terms of the development of younger players. I think until that changes, it's going to be hard for them to get the numbers of really good players that you need in order to have the depth to be really competitive on the international stage."
Pearn and the China national team took on Briercrest College in Caronport, Saskatchewan for some exhibition games January 30 to 31.
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