A friendly game kicks off among players of the Beijing 1979 Ice Hockey Team on Saturday at the Aozhong Ice Sports Center in Beijing. The players mostly met in the Beijing Shichahai Sports School’s amateur ice hockey class in the 1970s, and are now on average 60 years old. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

The students practice in Changchun, Northeast China’s Jilin province, in 1978. The class was set up when a local official decided to resume the youth ice hockey program after the completion of the Capital Indoor Stadium gave China its first indoor ice rink in the late 1960s. Photo: Courtesy of the interviewees

A group photo of the ice hockey team taken in the 1970s. The class was canceled in the late spring of 1979. Photo: Courtesy of interviewee

Goalkeeper Zhao Jianzhong, 60, gets dressed in the locker room of the Aozhong Ice Sports Center. In 2015, nine members from the Shichahai Sports School’s amateur ice hockey class reunited after nearly 40 years and decided to establish the Beijing 1979 Ice Hockey Team. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Zhao puts on protective gear in the locker room to prepare for Saturday’s game. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Zhao enters the arena of the Aozhong Ice Sports Center. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

A substitute player rushes onto the ice. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Players compete for the puck. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

A player slides on the ice. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Goalkeeper Zhou Yunjie sprays water onto his face to cool down. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Sweat drips from a player’s face during the game. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

A player on the bench keeps his eyes on the game as substitutions can happen at any moment. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Zhao celebrates with teammates after winning the game 8-6. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Zhao talks with his teammates in the locker room after the game. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

A player puts on shinpads before the game on Saturday. Protective gear such as helmets, shoulder pads and gloves are essential in ice hockey to protect players. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Uniforms of the team are seen hung in the locker room on Saturday. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Ice hockey sticks are placed in line in the locker room on Saturday. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

Players talk outside the sports center after the game at nearly midnight Sunday. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin

An old photo of the students of Beijing Shichahai Sports School’s amateur ice hockey class is set in the arena. The team now has 43 players and trains regularly every Wednesday and Saturday. Photo: Ding Gang/Caixin