Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crossmr]

For those who want to catch some hockey games in Korea this winter, the season started early so that they could be finished before the olympics. The regular season will end in about 7 weeks.
both of the Korean teams are looking like they'll make it to the playoffs, and there is a good chance the Anyang team will finish first again. They're 3 points behind, but have mostly easy games left and games in hand.

So for anyone who wants to see a home game, halla's are always available on the internet live at anyanghalla.com (IE only, but no registration required)

or you can go to Anyang on these dates at 7 pm:
Dec 22 - vs China Dragon, this will be a blood bath. In 5 games Halla has outscored them something like 40 to 5.
January 28,30,31 - vs the Oji Eagles. The eagles are the current 1st place team, and its likely that it will be a close finish for first between these teams, so a much better set of games to watch.
February 7 - vs High1 the two korean teams will play in Anyang to end the season, these are usually high scoring games.

If you live in Chuncheon High1 is playing there
Dec 24, 26, 27 - vs China Dragon, same situation
Jan 9, 10 - vs Halla, the two korean teams will play in Chuncheon

If you live near Goyang High1 plays home games there on
Jan 23, 24, 26 - vs Oji Eagles, maybe they'll soften them up for Halla.

If you're in Seoul both Anyang and Goyang are reachable depending on where you live. Goyang is out Line 3 to the north and Anyang is out line 4 to the south. If you're going to Goyang go to Wondang station and there is a bus to the rink or a short taxi ride. For anyang take the train to indagwon station and there about 6 different buses (8-1, 9-3 and 11-1 for sure, just check those lines for the stop name 5 from where you are and check the rest of the list) you can take 5 stops to the rink. They'll stop just around the corner from the rink, or you can take a 3000W taxi ride. Both out of exit 8.

Chuncheon, all I know is it is about a 15 minute taxi ride from Chuncheon station. I'm going out there January 9/10 so I could post better directions then.

and if you go, you might win some prizes.
So far I've won a popcorn maker, a necktie and a gift certificate for a family photo shoot at a studio. They give away various small appliances, cases of miller lite, and gift certificates as part of a lottery on your ticket number in Anyang. During the second intermission head out to the lobby and check the list to see if you've won something.

[mayorgc]

The anyang games are probably reachable from Beomgye and Pyeongchon station by foot or taxi. From beomgye, it's maybe 20 min walk or less. Good exercise.

[crossmr]

[Sooke]

Hey Crossmr,

How's the level of hockey? How would it compare to back home? Obviously, it isn't NHL level, but would it be along the same level as CHL (WHL, OHL, QMJHL), or more like Junior A?

A couple of years back I saw Yonsei play Koryo Dae(I think it was Koryo Dae, might've been Seoul Dae) and it was absolutely terrible. Very slow, little puck control, and no real body play. My cousin's team (she's 16 years old-but she's on the best team in the province for her age group) would kick either of those teams asses.

But then again, I just saw the Oil Kings play the Blades back home and the Oil Kings were just awful. Couldn't afford Oiler's tickets though, so we had to settle.

[crossmr]

China is god awful. It isn't all their fault. Their team has been in turmoil for years, so I think its hard for them to develop right now.
The Korean and most of the Japanese teams are pretty decent. They carry imports, including EX-NHLers, AHL players and top euro-league players.

While these guys do well, some of the local players are certainly on their level. Halla has a really fast player named Geun Ho. he reminds me a little of Matthew Lombardi from the Flames (not sure where he is now). He can get down the ice faster than most which often causes trouble for the defenders on a rush, like Lombardi, he sometimes blows the play at the end.

I've probably gone to about 15 games in the last 2 years now (Give or take) and I've seen some goalies make some amazing saves, I've seen some players make some really good moves with the pucks, and I've seen some decent skating. I've also seen some goalies blow some easy ones, some crap passes, and a guy trip over the blue line..

Its hard to get excited when Halla is playing the Chinese, as its a foregone conclusion that they're going to smash them, but the games against the other korean team or japanese teams are plenty exciting and sometimes quite good.

The worst thing are the refs. The refs are absolutely atrocious and make macgeough look like a saint. The first few weeks of the season I watched as one bumbling ref after another cost Halla game after game. I don't mean blown calls (though plenty of those) I mean the refs actually getting in the way of plays and causing turnovers and other issues. It has gotten much better though and the last few games I haven't really had many complaints about that.

If you want a little more info on the team's histories and league, I recently rewrote the wikipedia articles on them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_League_Ice_Hockey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anyang_Halla
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Dragon (not quite finished yet)

At least the Korean and Chinese teams. None of the Japanese teams put out any English information. The Chinese team gets a lot of press because of their past association with the San Jose Sharks. They actually didn't finish in last place last season, but with San Jose pulling out over the summer, it yet again screwed the team up.

[ajgeddes]

[sibidi]

What the hell do you know about hockey, Geddes?

[crossmr]