The best hockey league in the world is taking a shot at the planet's most populous nation. The NHL is coming to China this year, announcing a pair of pre-season games that will take place this fall, with visions of long-term growth.

The LA Kings and the Vancouver Canucks will play a pair of exhibition games in September, in Shanghai and Beijing, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced.

The announcement in the Chinese capital coincides with the league's 100th year, and sees the NHL venture into this country for the first time ever.

"We are going to, on a regular basis to be determined, bring pre-season and regular season games, host clinics for young people, have conferences for coaching,” Bettman said. “We want at all levels of the game to encourage the development of the sport."

The league hopes its presence can turn these youngsters into future stars, and will be the foundation of a budding new fan base.

Popularizing hockey here has a long way to go: a decade ago, there were 800 people in total playing the game. That has increased marginally. And the number of youths participating remains at about half the overall number. 

But infrastructure is booming, with more rinks being built. In 1997, there were only a dozen, now there are more than 150, and well over 300 if you include outdoor venues. That should increase further with Beijing named as host of the 2022 Winter Olympics.