Jaimee Wood warms up before the Chinese men's team played Australia in last night's Winter Games ice hockey match at Dunedin Ice Stadium. They lost 15-2. Photo by Jane Dawber.

Jaimee Wood may not be Chinese, or even a man, but that did not stop her taking to the ice for the Chinese men's ice hockey team during its Winter Games match in Dunedin last night.

The 16-year-old goaltender was one of six Dunedin ring-ins for the Chinese team after nine of its players were unable to travel to New Zealand at the last minute because of visa issues.

She had expected to warm the bench at last night's match against the Australian men's team, but was shocked when an injury to the team's starting goaltender gave her a chance.

"They asked me if I wanted some ice time and I said it would be amazing."

The teenager revelled in the big time, letting in five goals but making 12 saves during her 12 minutes 20 seconds on the ice.

The speed and the accuracy of the players and their shots on goal was more than she was used to, she said afterwards.

"It was awesome. I absolutely loved it. It was an amazing experience."

Jaimee was called into the reserves on Tuesday for games against New Zealand and Australia in the round-robin tournament.

This was not the goalie's first international call-up. Jaimee, who has played ice hockey for seven years, was this week selected for the Ice Ferns squad.

The team will tour New Zealand this year and compete in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) women's division 2A world championships in Slovenia next year.

Dunedin ice hockey coach Sophia Leon de la Barra said Jaimee was "one of the best we have here in Dunedin".

She was named the best goaltender at the national women's championships last week, and made history last night by becoming the first New Zealand female to play in an IIHF match.

Jaimee said her team-mates last night had been "very nice and supportive on the ice".

"I think they were in a bit of shock as well that they were just chucking a 16-year-old girl on the ice."

Chinese team coach Yu Ciang Pan said, through an interpreter, nine of his players could not travel to New Zealand because their passports had expired.

For the record, the team also lost to New Zealand 8-3, on Wednesday night.