Beijing Ice Hockey Association briefed the media on hockey's development at a press conference on Monday.

Hosting the 2022 Winter Olympic Games would provide great impetus for developing ice hockey in Beijing.

The International Olympics Committee (IOC) will announce in less than a month which city – Almaty, Kazakhstan or Beijing, China – will win the bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Beijing's final sprint ahead of the IOC announcement was reflected in the increasing popularity of winter sports, ice hockey especially.

A record 97 teams registered with the Beijing Ice Hockey Association's (BHA) 2014-15 Youth Hockey League, which plays throughout winter and spring.

The trend reached a climax recently after a Beijing boy made history when he became the first Chinese selected in the National Hockey League draft.

Song Andong, 18, was chosen by the New York Islanders as the No. 172 pick in the draft a week ago.

However, lack of decent rinks in China has made it difficult for the sport to flourish. According to Liu Ge, general secretary of BHA, Beijing has just six game-standard rinks –- far from enough to meet the growing demand.

BHA's chairman Xin Tieliang believes hockey's development has entered a critical phase, in which government's support will play a significant role.

"Bidding for the Winter Olympic Games is a great opportunity. The government will spend more to boost hockey's growth if Beijing wins the bid," Xin said.

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