Breaking new ice

However, a lack of experience, consistency and focus at clutch moments, exposed by squandered early leads in several key matches in Harbin, took a toll on the team's ambition and provided a stark reminder of the catching-up required to match its continental rivals.

"Obviously, we are not mature enough. In a couple of matches, we made mistakes right after we scored, letting the opponents get back on their feet quickly and come back to beat us," captain Zhang Jiaqi said after the team's 3-1 semifinal loss to Kazakhstan.

With an average age of 24, the current Chinese men's team is ushering in a new era with the Chinese Ice Hockey Association pinning high hopes on an all-homegrown roster.

The bold initiative of bolstering the national teams, including the women's squad, with North American-born players with Chinese heritage, such as former NHL veteran Brandon Yip, was implemented by CIHA in 2017 in a desperate move to toughen the host up before the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

It was quickly abandoned, though, after a reshuffle of CIHA leadership, currently chaired by president Wang Xuan, who has reiterated the focus on growing China's own talent system since being elected the new chief in July 2022.