ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Few professional sports teams had grander beginnings than Kunlun Red Star.With Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping looking on, Chinas biggest venture in hockey to date joined the Kontinental Hockey League in June at a lavish ceremony in Beijing. For the Russia-based KHL, Kunlun is a chance to beat the NHL to the Chinese market. Chinese officials hope the club can groom enough talent to strengthen its feeble national team in time for the Beijing Olympics in 2022.This project was organized at the highest level, said Vladimir Yurzinov Jr., Kunluns Russian coach. Its good that were first because if it wasnt us (in the Chinese market), it would be the North Americans.China offers a vast potential fan base for foreign sports leagues, but there are challenges in turning interest into revenue.English Premier League soccer is the biggest success story, having built a dedicated Chinese following in part by playing preseason games in Hong Kong. That has helped to push its global TV rights deals to record levels. The Womens Tennis Association now hosts some of its most lucrative events there, thanks to the breakout popularity of Chinese player Li Na, while the British-based sport of snooker has also reversed its fortunes by finding a younger audience in China.Still, Tom Doctoroff, an U.S.-based expert on marketing in China, cautioned that hockey has limited potential in China because it is too overtly aggressive for Chinese consumers, and persuading them to pay to watch sports broadcasts is difficult.Free remains the frame of reference for most consumers, he said in an email.That hasnt stopped Kunlun from rushing through a summer of recruitment and training to create a club in record time. The team is off a sobering start to life in the KHL, widely considered the worlds second-strongest league.Kunlun had lost three in a row when it arrived for a recent game at SKA St. Petersburg, which had ex-NHL stars Slava Voynov and Ilya Kovalchuk on the ice. There were a few giggles when the announcer asked fans to stand for the Chinese anthem, and SKA barely had to sweat for a 3-0 win as Kunluns Canadian and European import players struggled to deal with one of the strongest rosters outside the NHL.The KHL sprawls across eight countries and nine time zones, meaning players face a punishing schedule of long flights across Eastern Europe and Asia. Thats a new world for ex-Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Bellemore, who had never left North America until he joined Kunlun before the season. For Bellemore, the move was more about seeing the world with his new wife, Natasha, than the financial side of playing in China.Id never even had jetlag before, he said. Its been a bit of a ride, but its been exciting.Kunlun boasts players from nine countries, ranging from 36-year-old NHL veteran Alexei Ponikarovsky to young Chinese players just starting their careers. Among them is Rudi Ying, an 18-year-old who grew up in the United States after moving there at age 10 to pursue his dream of being a professional hockey player.Spreading hockey beyond Chinas wealthier classes will be hard, given the cost of equipment and facilities. Right now, soccer is attracting the lions share of government and private funds, with President Xi the countrys No. 1 fan.Ive had one foot in either culture, said Ying, who comes from a privileged background. It helps me to see how far behind Chinese hockey is. Chinas not to blame, its just a sport thats not very popular ... We dont have much time to catch up.Despite the political fanfare around Kunlun in Russia and China, club spokesman Oleg Vinokurov said no government money is involved and funding comes from Russian and Chinese companies. So far, there are mixed signals on the success of the fledgling team: While almost 8,000 people watched Kunlun win its first home game in Beijing, a game at its secondary arena in Shanghai attracted just 550 fans.For the KHL, moving into Asia is something of a plan B after its westward expansion into Europe stalled, with several teams experiencing chronic financial difficulties. The long-term aim is for Kunlun to be the basis for the Chinese national team, just as CSKA Moscow was for the Soviet Union.Yurzinov said part of his mission as Kunlun coach is to improve the Chinese players on his roster with mentoring from older teammates and simply practice after practice. The focus is firmly on developing local talent, not attracting foreigners to represent China in international play, as 2018 Olympic host South Korea has done.If it cant improve the national team by 2022, China will be the first Olympic host not to take part in the mens tournament. The national team was pounded 9-0 by the Netherlands earlier this year and will play next years world championship in Division II B, competing against the likes of Mexico and North Korea.Ying will be 23 when the 2022 Olympics take place and hopes he will be a star on home ice for the Chinese national team. He worries the timetable is just too tight, even with Kunlun spawning a new generation.The reason we created this organization to try to help promote Chinese hockey is because one person cant do it, he said. If 2022 comes around and Im the only one whos at that level, its not going to be enough. Cheap Sammy Sosa Jersey . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. 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(STATS) -- Coach Beau Baldwin has been praising third-ranked Eastern Washingtons defense this season but its been overshadowed by a prolific offense fueled by Gage Gubrud and Cooper Kupp.Its hard to overlook what its doing in the FCS playoffs.One of the best defenses of the postseason and one of the best defenses of the regular season will be on the same field Saturday, though No. 13 Youngstown State may have some players suspended as it looks to keep the high-flying Eagles in check at a frigid Roos Field in the FCS national semifinal.Eastern Washingtons offense has received significant attention -- and for good reason. The Eagles (12-1) are first in the FCS in passing yards (403.4), second in total offense (534.7), third in scoring (42.7) and are led by two of the top three vote-getters for the 2016 STATS FCS Walter Payton Award in Gubrud and Kupp. The two were also both named the Big Skys Co-Offensive Player of the Year in leading EWU to a conference title and No. 2 seed for the playoffs.The defense, however, has also been instrumental to the teams success after being a major liability a year ago and has stepped up its play in two playoff games.After allowing season lows in yards (244) and points in a 31-14 second-round win over Central Arkansas, the defense was even better in last Saturdays 38-0 quarterfinal victory over Richmond. The Eagles had six sacks, forced five turnovers and permitted just 205 yards in recording their first shutout since 2009.Youre always growing, and especially when its only year two of a new defensive coordinator (Jeff Schmedding), you feel like you should be continuing to grow at this point, Baldwin said. I also think there is something to the work ethic they carried through the season, a work ethic in the weight room and health-wise to keep themselves in the right position to have success late in the year. Its a number of factors that have helped lead us to this spot.The defense is vastly improved from a year ago, when it was tied for 118th in the FCS in scoring (39.5 points per game). This year, theyre allowing an average of 25.5 and four EWU defensive players -- linebacker Miquiyah Zamora, safety Zach Bruce, end Samson Ebukam and tackle Jay-Tee Tiuli -- were named to the All-Big Sky first team.The unseeded Penguins (11-3), in the playoffs for the first time since reaching the 2006 semifinals, are also no slouch defensively, ranking seventh in the FCS in points (18.1) and 11th in total yards (313.5). They had three from that unit named to the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference first team in ends Derek Rivers and Avery Moss and safety LeRoy Alexander.The unit will face a much different look than in last Saturdays 30-23 double-overtime win over Wofford. The run-oriented Terriers attempted all of three passes -- a number the Eagles may reach on their first three offensive snaps.Gubrud leads the FCS with 537 attempts and 4,822 passing yards, is second with 45 touchdowns and third in completion percentage at 68.dddddddddddd5. The sophomore is also first in the division in total offense with 5,380 yards.He has three receivers that have eclipsed 1,000 yards led by Kupp, who is first in the FCS in yards (1,520), second in receptions (107) and third in TDs (15). The 2015 STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year ranks first in Division I history in receptions (418), receiving yards (6,284) and touchdown receptions (71).The best receiving corps in the FCS also includes fellow seniors Shaq Hill (75 catches, 1,112 yards, 16 TDs) and Kendrick Bourne (76, 1,087, 6).Our defense has been challenged this way before against a number of teams that throw the ball and spread you out, YSU coach Bo Pelini said. ... These guys post some different challenges here and there and are unique in certain ways. Its about getting a good plan together.The Penguins may catch a bit of a break as the weather could dictate Gubruds ability to throw. The forecast in Cheney is a high of 7 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.Were going to approach it that they can run their offense, Pelini said, and plan B is if it becomes really difficult out there, what are our answers then if it becomes more of a running situation.Ideally, the Penguins will be at full strength for facing an offense like the Eagles but they could be without some key contributors.The school hasnt confirmed a report that some YSU players will be suspended after testing positive for an unidentified substance following the teams second-round win over Jacksonville State. Its also uncertain if Martin Ruiz will face any more punishment after his arrest last week on a gun charge. He spent a night in jail and only got in for one play in the second half against Wofford.Ruiz (1,153) and Jody Webb (1,200) are the only 1,000-yard runners in the MVFC. Ruiz also tops the MVFC with 12 rushing touchdowns and Webb is second in the league with an average of 6.3 yards per carry.Hunter Wells threw a season-high three touchdown passes last week as Youngstown State was able to overcome three missed field goals. The junior quarterback was playing in his seventh game and the Penguins are averaging 38.8 points during a five-game winning streak since losing at North Dakota State.The Eagles lone loss came to the top-seeded Bison, falling 50-44 in overtime. The teams have one other common opponent, as EWU and Youngstown each beat Northern Iowa by four points.The only other time YSU and EWU met was in the 1997 semifinals, when the Jim Tressel-led Penguins won 25-14 and would win the FCS championship a week later.The winner will face either No. 4 North Dakota State or fifth-ranked James Madison in the FCS national championship in Frisco, Texas on Jan. 6. ' ' '