SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- There has been no clash of egos between the coaches of the two Korean women's ice hockey teams, as their players try to get on the same page for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, officials said Saturday.
Following an earlier inter-Korean agreement and a stamp of approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the two Koreas will assemble an unprecedented joint team in women's hockey at the Olympics.
With South Korea head coach Sarah Murray, 29, in charge, North Korea sent 12 players to the South Korea on Thursday, along with coach Pak Chol-ho, to join Murray's 23 players at Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon, 90 kilometers east of Seoul.
In this photo provided by the unification ministry, North Korean women's hockey players practice at Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, on Jan. 26, 2018. (Yonhap)
Pak's presence caught some here by surprise, and there were whispers that Murray's authority could be challenged by the 48-year-old coach.
The IOC has stated that at least three North Korean players should get into games and that the South Korean team's bench boss would have the final say in roster decisions. But with North Korea's own coach in the mix, would Murray be under any pressure, perceived or otherwise, to give North Korean players more significant roles?
If Murray's first practice with North Koreans is any indication, there's no need to worry about any power struggles, according to officials at Seoul's Korea Ice Hockey Association (KIHA).
After bringing all the players together for their first meeting Thursday night, Murray began working with the North Korean players on Friday. She plans to run separate practice sessions through Saturday, so that she can figure out her new players, before integrating the two squads on Sunday.
According to KIHA officials, the North Korean players went through basic shooting and passing drills for 90 minutes. Murray's South Korean assistant, Kim Do-yun, doubled as an interpreter for Pak.
One official described the atmosphere as "serious."
"Every player skated hard, and Coach Pak was also a serious participant," he said. "Whenever North Korean players didn't seem to understand directions, Pak picked up his stick and showed them. It was good to see him help out Coach Murray."
In this photo provided by the unification ministry, North Korean women's hockey coach Pak Chol-ho (C) speaks during a meeting of teams from the two Koreas at Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, on Jan. 25, 2018. (Yonhap)
Pak played for the North Korean men's national team from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. He has also been the men's team coach, and during last year's International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship Division II Group A tournament in the South, Pak was listed as deputy general secretary of the North's ice hockey federation.
"I think Coach Pak is on good terms with our coaching staff, and they've been cooperative with each other," another KIHA official added. "You won't have to worry about Coach Pak."
During the Olympics, only 22 players can dress -- 20 skaters and two goaltenders.
North Korea has seven forwards, four defensemen and one goaltender in Jincheon. Two of the blueliners, Jin Ok and Choe Jong-hui, are converted forwards.
Murray has said she likes the toughness of the North Korean players and that they'd be a great fit for the fourth line, where hard-nosed players could complement their more skilled teammates.
South Korea is ranked No. 22, three spots above North Korea. The joint team is in Group B.
Its first game is against world No. 6 Switzerland at 9:10 p.m. on Feb. 10, with fifth-ranked Sweden up next at 9:10 p.m. on Feb. 12. The final group match is against ninth-ranked Japan at 4:40 p.m. on Feb. 14. All games will be played at the Kwandong Hockey Centre in Gangneung.
The joint Korean team will have one tune-up game before the Olympics -- against Sweden on Feb. 4 in Incheon, west of Seoul.
The Koreas, technically at war for over six decades, have had unified teams at world championships for table tennis and youth football, but never at any Olympic Games.
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