High1

High1 Ice Hockey Club originally entered the Asia League as the Kangwon Land in 2005-06.  The team was named after its parent company that specializes in resorts, casinos and golf courses.

The team had intended to start in 2004-2005 but withdrew its application because they weren’t ready. “After that, they managed to hire import players to meet the League requirements, then applied anew for entry to the Asia League 2005-2006.”

The inaugural team consisted of players who had played for Dongwon or Hyundai, disbanded teams from the defunct Korean League. Other players came from the military after completing their conscription service. The team was also permitted to use up to five import players and used four.

To prepare for its first campaign, the team held training camp in Canada from July 29 to September 20, 2005 and played about 10 practice games with local teams.

Kangwon Land had a dismal first season, finishing seventh in the nine team league. The next season saw a complete turn of fortune for the team as they stormed through the second season and finished fourth and earned a trip to the playoffs.

After two seasons as Kangwon Land, the team was renamed High1 after another brand owned by the parent company.

Since becoming High1, the team has qualified for the playoffs five of it’s nine seasons going deep as the semis on three occasions. in 2014-15 High1 record 22 wins in 48 games a team record.

The club has always played a fast, physical game. The offence has, for the most part, relied on import players from North America which should prove an interesting test in 2015-16 since High1 will not carry non-Korean passport holders this season.

The 2015-16 season was the worst in club history. High1 finished seventh and managed only 12 wins in 48 games

The team has continued to gain new fans every year as they play more home games diverted from Chuncheon to the Goyang Spart (Sport + Art) Complex Arena.

High1 never disappoints. Win or lose, they are a fun and entertaining team that plays a full sixty minutes and then some.