By Steve Keating
BEIJING (Reuters) – The Czech Republic women’s ice hockey team made their Olympic debut a winning one on Thursday, beating China 3-1 in the Beijing Winter Games tournament opener to disappoint a small crowd at the Wukesong Sport Centre.
The China team, back in the Olympic women’s competition for the first time since the 2010 Vancouver Games, were supported by a handful of delegates, VIPs, fans and energetic cheerleaders dressed in hockey sweaters.
Even in a muted atmosphere, however, China’s American coach Brian Idalski said the weight of the moment rested heavily on his players.
“I think anytime you feel the weight of 1.4 billion people and representing them and what that feels like that’s a lot to take in,” Idalski said.
“I think overall they handled some of that well, I don’t think anyone’s preparation for this with COVID and everything else has been ideal.
“So for what was a very tough match up for us I was pleased we competed from start to finish.”
For the few socially distanced mostly China supporters there was little to cheer about in the early stages as the Czech Republic jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals from Tereza Radova in the opening period and Denisa Krizova with a brilliant individual effort in the second.
With just under a minute to play China did get on the scoreboard with a powerplay goal from Mi Le but Michaela Pejzlova restored the Czechs’ two-goal cushion when she split two defenders before breaking in alone and stick-handling past netminder Chen Tiya
“Now I feel like it is no big deal,” Radova said when asked about her historic goal. “I feel like it is just a normal goal but I don’t how I am going to feel like tomorrow or a few hours after this game but right now it is nothing special.”
In other opening day action, a ruthless Canada bidding to reclaim the Olympic title won by their bitter rivals the United States at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games, thumped Switzerland 12-1.
Sarah Fillier, Natalie Spooner, Blayre Turnbull and Laura Stacey each netted twice for Canada while Ashton Bell, Claire Thompson, Erin Ambrose and Rebecca Johnston had singles.
Later on Thursday, Japan take on Sweden and the U.S. open their title defence against Finland.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Beijing, Editing by Ed Osmond)
