from Caryn Switaj of BostonBruins.com,

Hockey is hockey.

That’s one of the immediate realizations, upon first arriving at Xiaolang International Ice Rink in Beijing, China.

The rink is nearly 7,000 miles away from Boston. It has two sheets of ice, with overlooks for spectator viewing. There are signs lining the walls, with one that projects the motivational motto: “Be Hungry. Be Crazy.”

It is the home rink of the Little Wolf hockey family, but it served as the Bruins’ home away from home for a week of youth hockey clinics.

The mission? To help grow the game.

Current Bruins Matt Beleskey and David Pastrnak made the trek across the world to help host the clinics, along with alumni Andrew Raycroft and Bob Sweeney, and the Bruins Youth Hockey Development Team.

The trip — “Bruins Global: China 2016” — was made possible through a partnership with Beijing-based company O.R.G. Packaging and the Chairman of O.R.G., Mr. Zhou Yunjie. It represents a joint initiative to help introduce the Bruins to hockey and culture in China, while they help grow the sport of hockey abroad with their knowledge and skills.

“It’s been great,” Beleskey said of the experience. “You see all of the kids having fun and working hard. When you see kids playing hockey and having fun, it’s always a good time.”

continued

Below, watch Matt Beleskey's visit to The Great Wall...