Record Olympic champion Canada started the women’s ice hockey tournament at the Winter Games in Beijing with a resounding victory. The world champions from the home country of ice hockey outclassed Switzerland, the 2014 Olympic bronze medalist, at the start of the preliminary round in Group A by 12:1 (3:0, 5:0, 4:1).
The defending champions from the USA also started well with a 5:2 (2:0, 2:0, 1:2) against Finland, but had to cope with the serious injury of Brianna Decker, who was brought off the ice with a couchette, in the first third . According to ESPN, USA Hockey has confirmed that Decker’s Winter Games are over.
Blayre Turnbull (3), Sarah Fillier (2), Natalie Spooner (2), Laura Stacey (2), Rebecca Johnston, Ashton Bell and Erin Ambrose scored the goals at the National Indoor Stadium for Team Canada, who won the 2018 Olympics after four straight USA had to give way. Only Lara Stalder scored for the Swiss.
With the expected defeat, the Olympics began for the hostesses. China, ranked 19th in the world, lost 3-1 (0-1, 1-1, 0-1) in Group B to the Czech Republic at the Wukesong Sports Center.
