BEIJING, – On Thursday, the Czech Republic women’s hockey team won their Olympic debut beating host China 3-1. The USA began their defense of their gold medal with a routine win.
China was back in the Olympic women’s competition for the first-time since the 2010 Vancouver Games. A few delegates, VIPs and fans supported them.
However, even in such a tense atmosphere, China’s American coach Brian Idalski stated that the moment was largely on his players.
Idalski stated that if you feel the weight and represent them, it’s overwhelming.
“Overall, they handled some of it well, I don’t think anyone’s preparation for this with CoVID and all other things was ideal.
“So, for what was a very difficult matchup for us both, I was pleased that we competed from beginning to end.”
The Czech Republic led 2-0 in the first period, thanks to goals by Tereza Radova and Denisa Krizova. This was disappointing for many socially distant supporters of China.
China scored with just over a minute left to play. However, Michaela Pejzlova restored Czechs’ two goal cushion by splitting two defenders, before she broke in solo and handed the ball to Chen Tiya, the netminder.
Radova said that it was “no big deal” when she was asked about the Czech women’s first ever Olympic goal.
“It feels like a normal goal, but I don’t know how I will feel tomorrow or after the game. But right now it is nothing extraordinary.”
The United States won the Olympic title at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Canada, however, was determined to win it back. They defeated Switzerland 12-1.
Canada’s double-winning team included Sarah Fillier and Natalie Spooner, Blayre Turnerbull, Laura Stacey, and Blayre Turnbull. Ashton Bell and Claire Thompson as well as Erin Ambrose, Rebecca Johnston, and Erin Ambrose all scored for Canada.
The United States opened their defense of the gold medal with a win over Finland by two goals each from Alex Carpenter (Kendall Coyne Schofield) but they did not win.
After a collision with a Finnish player behind the net, Brianna Decker (U.S. assistant captain) was left on a stretcher in the first period. She was in severe pain and had to leave the game.
Decker was then out of the game. The Americans scored quickly twice, and then pulled ahead with Coyne Schofield’s second-period goals.
Finland finally scored in the third period, but Carpenter replied with her second goal of the game five minute later to restore a 4-goal cushion. Although Finland won the game late, it was already too late.
Japan beat Sweden 3-1 with two third-period goals. One of them was a goal into the empty net with 61 seconds left.
