The Chinese Taipei Ice Hockey League is one of the best organized ice hockey leagues in Asia. This season, the fifth, saw some surprises as the Taipei Wolves (6th in the regular season) managed to go all the way to the final by eliminating the Tainan Dragons and the Kaohsiung Rhinos (winner of the regular season) in the quarter- and semifinal. The final series (played as a best of three) was decided in game 3 on 3 May 2009 when the Hsinchu Raptors beat the Wolves 7-4. The young Shen brothers made all the difference by scoring all the Raptors 7 goals. Shen Yan-Jin (aka Andy Shen) scored 4 while Shen Yan-Ling (aka Eric Shen) scored 3.
Andy Shen was subsequently honoured as both Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. If he keeps developing, he could become Taipei's greatest player for many years to come. Ryan Lang, a Canadian ex-pat, who was the scoring leader of the regular season, won the MVP award
Andy Shen with the Player of the Year Award
Photo: www.cihl.com.tw.
FINAL STANDINGS REGULAR SEASON
|
|
|
GP
|
W
|
T
|
L
|
GF:GA
|
P
|
|
1 |
Kaohsiung Rhinos |
18 |
15 |
3 |
3 |
97:53 |
30 |
|
2 |
Hsinchu Raptors |
18 |
12 |
0 |
6 |
84:80 |
24 |
|
3 |
Tainan Dragons |
18 |
11 |
0 |
7 |
100:84 |
22 |
|
4 |
Taipei Lions |
18 |
10 |
1 |
7 |
65:55 |
21 |
|
5 |
Taipei Tigers |
18 |
9 |
0 |
9 |
87:86 |
18 |
|
6 |
Taipei Wolves |
18 |
8 |
1 |
9 |
83:104 |
17 |
|
7 |
Sababa Bears |
18 |
7 |
2 |
9 |
100:96 |
16 |
|
8 |
Chalyo Sharks |
18 |
7 |
1 |
10 |
77:82 |
15 |
|
9 |
Kaohsiung Mustangs |
18 |
3 |
2 |
13 |
44:95 |
8 |
PLAYOFFS
Quarterfinals
Hsinchu Raptors - Sababa Bears 11-5
Dragon Tainan - Taipei Wolves 2-3
Taipei Lions -Taipei Tigers 3-2
bye: Kaohsiung Rhinos
Semifinals
Rhinos Kaohsiung - Taipei Wolves 0-2 in series
Raptors Hsinchu - Taipei Lions 6-3, 4-2
Finals
Raptors Hsinchu - Taipei Wolves 3-4 OT, 4-2, 7-4
SCORING LEADERS
Regular season
1. Ryan Lang (Rhinos) 66 (51+15)
2. Chen Yang Lin (Raptors) 50 (33+17)
3. Brandon Marleau (Dragons) 49 (31+18)
4. Mal Turner (Tigers) 45 (28+27)
5. John Long (Dragons) 43 (17+26)
Playoffs
1. Shen Yang Lin (Raptors) 18 (13+5)
2. Bob McLeod (Raptors) 12 (8+4)^
3. John Deng (Raptors) 12 (3+9)
CIHL Champions 2009: Hsinchu Raptors
Photo: www.cihl.com.tw
CIHL CHAMPIONS
2008-09: Hsinchu Raptors (Taipei Wolves)
2007-08: Chiyai Sharks (Taichung Lions)
2006-07: Sababa Bears (Taipei Tigers)
2005: Chiyai Sharks (Taipei Bears)
2004: Hsinchu Raptors (Sababa Bears)
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