Nippon Paper grabs 2nd straight ice hockey title

Nippon Paper grabs 2nd straight ice hockey title

TOCHIGI, Japan - The Nippon Paper Cranes' Mike Madill (C) leaps after scoring a goal in the third period of a national ice hockey championship game against the Tohoku Free Blades at Nikko Kirifuri Ice Arena in Tochigi Prefecture on Feb. 13, 2011. The Cranes captured their second straight title with a 6-2 victory.

Ice hockey connects 3 rivaling countries in East Asia

Ice hockey connects 3 rivaling countries in East Asia

Japan's Nippon Paper Cranes team members shake hands with those of South Korea's High1 club after an Asia League Ice Hockey game in Kushiro in the northernmost Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido on Feb. 11, 2015. Besides Japan and South Korea, China participates in the league designed to facilitate exchanges and mutual understanding among the three countries as well as improve playing skills. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Ice hockey's Asian league player Inoue

Ice hockey's Asian league player Inoue

Photo shows Mitsuaki Inoue, a goalkeeper of the Asia League Ice Hockey's Nippon Paper Cranes team. With experiences of playing with Chinese and South Korean teams, Inoue hopes for an improvement in Japan's strained relations with China and South Korea. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Nippon Paper grabs 2nd straight ice hockey title

Nippon Paper grabs 2nd straight ice hockey title

TOCHIGI, Japan - The Nippon Paper Cranes' Mike Madill (C) leaps after scoring a goal in the third period of a national ice hockey championship game against the Tohoku Free Blades at Nikko Kirifuri Ice Arena in Tochigi Prefecture on Feb. 13, 2011. The Cranes captured their second straight title with a 6-2 victory. (Kyodo)