Canada open campaign in style

Sweden blank Norway as Czechs edge S. Korea

GANGNEUNG, South Korea, Feb 15, (AFP): Canada began their quest for a third consecutive Winter Olympic men’s hockey gold medal by ripping Switzerland 5-1 Thursday at Pyeongchang as Wojtek Wolski completed an astonishing comeback from a broken neck.

Wolski, injured 16 months ago, and Rene Bourque, who spent 12 seasons in the NHL, each scored two goals to spark Canada’s unheralded collection of European-based talent to a lopsided romp.

Switzerland’s Patrick Geering (left), and Canada’s Andrew Ebbett fight for the puck in the men’s preliminary round ice hockey match between Switzerland

and Canada during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Kwandong Hockey Centre in Gangneung on Feb 15. (AFP)

in an event where difficult quadruple jumps are taking on increasing importance.

Add in that Hanyu, hugely popular around the world, hopes to become the first man in 66 years to win back-toback Olympic gold, and the stakes rise.

“You didn’t really know what to expect,” Canada coach Willie Desjardins said. “It was nice to get a win to let everybody on our team see where we are and what we can do. I’m impressed with how we played. “We’ve still got a lot of tough hockey ahead of us but it was one good game.” Polish-born Wolski suffered his neck injury during a game in Kasakhstan when he slammed head-first into the boards. He needed surgery and rehabilitation for a year but has been inspiring for Canada.

“After all the unknowns and doubts, this is the culmination,” Wolski said. “I kept fighting. I didn’t give up. I’m so grateful I had this opportunity.” Finland’s Eeli Tolvanan, an 18-year-old forward selected 30th overall by Nashville in the first round of last year’s NHL Draft, netted one goal and set up three others in Finland’s 5-2 triumph over Germany.

“It was a good game for us, a huge win for the start of the tournament,” Tolvanen said. “We can go all the way.”

Other results saw Sweden blank Norway 4-0 and the Czech Republic edge South Korea 2-1.

Bourque gave Canada the lead for good on a redirection shot just 2:57 into the game and and only 4:33 later, defencenman Maxim Noreau buried a slapshot for a 2-0 Canada edge.

Bourque stuffed in a backhand 5:00 into the second period and just 52 seconds later, Wolski skated through two defenders up the right wing for a spectacular goal.

“I’m sure I’ll remember it for the rest of my life,” Wolski said.

Swiss forward Simon Moser’s power-play goal with 12:27 remaining averted a shutout but Wolski answered into an empty net after the Swiss removed Hiller for an extra attacker.

“We need different guys to step up every game,” Canada goaltender Ben Scrivens said. “Leadership comes from everybody and we got it from Rene and Wolski.”

It was a key win after opening losses

Wolski