CBC Hockey Day in Canada in Cantonese !!
1-February-2008
Rink Ink: CBC’s initiative to broadcast Hockey Day in Canada in Cantonese, Mandarin and Hindi – what are your thoughts on this?
Bill: I think it is good for all minority communities to promote hockey with help from the main stream broadcaster like CBC at the very popular Hockey Night in Canada TV program on the special Hockey Day in Canada festival.
Bill: The producer held back the information. May be the CBC is looking for new broadcasting markets.
Rink Ink: How did you get involved with this historic broadcast event?
Bill: This is a lot of friends in hockey circle recommended me to participate in this historic first ever using Cantonese to broadcast the Hockey Night in Canada hockey game between Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche during the festival of the Hockey Day in Canada.
Rink Ink: Where are you from originally? How long have you been in Canada?
Bill: I was born and raised in Hong Kong. I have been in Canada for almost 36 years.
Rink Ink: How long have you been involved in hockey?
Bill: I have been involved in hockey for more than 15 years
Rink Ink: How long have you been involved with the Chinese Ice Dragons? What are your thoughts on the CID?
Bill: Three years and counting.
The Chinese Ice Dragons are an all star Chinese hockey team that represents the Chinese community to play in the annual Canadian Multicultural Hockey Championship Tournament at Christmas.
My goals are building communication channels with all the general managers and coaches in different heritage communities in the Greater Toronto area, developing and growing our Chinese hockey base, and finding more sponsors to finance our team expenses.
Rink Ink: What are your thoughts on the Asian Hockey Championship and Cultural Event, and how long have you been involved with the event?
Bill: I think the Asian Hockey Championship is the by far the best breeding ground for all Asian teams to grooming their star players, searching their future star players, and making friends with all Asian hockey players in different ages from beginners to highly skilful players. The cultural Event is quite interesting and has a lot of fun things for the children and their parents to do.
This will be my fourth year involving with the AHC & CE.
Rink Ink: How long have your children been playing hockey? What levels of play have they attained?
Bill: My older son Winston has been playing hockey 16 years and 12 years for my younger son Wilbert.
Both of my sons started with the community Canskate program, then went on to community house league. As soon as I noticed their ability, I took them to rep. team tryouts. They both played in the GTHL. Winston finished Midget years before jumping to the UTSC Campus "A" team. This year, Winston selected as team captain and also hired by U. of T. to coach the UTSC Campus "C" team. Wilbert stopped at Bantam year before jumping to the Adult Safe Hockey League "B and C" divisions. Winston joined the Chinese Ice Dragons in 2005 and Wilbert started playing in 2006.
Rink Ink: As a new immigrant to this country, was it important for you to get your kids involved in hockey? Why?
Bill: I am truly believe it is important. I am still remembered when I was young. My involvement in so many different sports was able to allow me to meet so many friends. It was easy for me to reach out or other people to reach in. Hockey is a sport most canadians play and it represents a true canadian culture.
Rink Ink: Are you interested in expanding the reach of Asian Hockey?
Bill: Yes, I am very much interested in expanding the reach of Asian Hockey inside Canada and outside.
Rink Ink would like to congratulate Bill Tang on being apart of the CBC Broadcasting initiative, and wish him well in his hockey endeavours this year.
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