Canadians surge past Finns in friendly hockey

More than 700 people gathered last weekend to celebrate community, friendship and ice hockey at the second annual Hockey Night in Beijing. Canadian Ambassador to China Guy Saint-Jacques (left) and his Finnish counterpart Lars Backstrom squared off for the ceremonial face-off and puck drop as expatriates from their home countries met for a rematch of last year's game.

Twenty percent of ticket revenue was donated to the Shepherd's Field Children's Village, an organization that provides shelter and care for Chinese orphans with special needs.

Curtis Dracz was named Most Valuable Player for the Canadians, who won 4-1, while Marko Jokela of Team Finland won MVP honors for his squad. "The intensity brought everyone to their feet, and there were times they were so loud that we couldn't even hear the referee whistle," Dracz said. Primary sponsors of the event were Nokia and the Canadian International School of Beijing.

Diplomats from Latin American and Caribbean countries seemed to be moving in a pack last week. First, they took in the opening of Beijing's brand-new Latin American and Caribbean Center in Sanlitun SOHO, then they swarmed a VIP reception and a concert at the Poly Theater on May 13.

The musical extravaganza was part of the Meet in Beijing Arts Festival, and featured music from 13 countries performed by the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Zhang Guoyong. A high-spirited dance by Alejandro Martin Ferreyra and Natalia Soledad Turelli from the Argentina's Tango Desire carried the crowd out in a buoyant mood.

Slovak Ambassador Frantisek Dlhopolcek hosted an exhibition. Naive Art from Kovacica, presented by painters Jan Glozik and Janos Mesaros last week at the embassy.