The NHL hopes the tour will raise the profile of the league and ice hockey in China.
The 10-day tour is being backed by Islanders’ owner, Chinese-American businessman Charles Wang.
“We have gotten approval from the N.H.L. Players’ Association, the N.H.L. and the Chinese government, and they are welcoming us and are excited about us coming,” Wang said, as reported by the New York Times.
The Islanders will spend most of their time in Beijing, but will also visit Harbin, a popular winter sports destination in the North-East of the country, and Shanghai. The tour will not see a regular season match played in China this year, as has happened in Europe for the last three years, but will feature exhibition matches against the Chinese national team.
