Men's ice hockey powerhouses make strong start at 2026 Winter Olympics

MILAN, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The men's ice hockey competition at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games continued on Thursday, with several teams laying early claims in the race for quarterfinal berths.

In Group A action at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Switzerland delivered a commanding opening performance, shutting out France 4-0.

"It was a good, solid performance, and 4-0 is a good start to the tournament," said Swiss forward Andrighetto.

Later in the same group, Canada announced its presence with a 5-0 victory over the Czech Republic. The North American powerhouse, featuring a roster packed with NHL stars, dominated from start to finish. Macklin Celebrini opened the scoring in the final seconds of the first period, and Canadian veterans Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon combined for multiple points.

"It was a good first step for us. We'll just try to keep getting better," forward Mitch Marner said, with MacKinnon adding: "It's the Olympics. It's a big deal."

In Group C, the United States showcased its offensive depth in a 5-1 win over Latvia, while Germany secured a 3-1 victory over Denmark.

In the women's competition, Canada won 5-0 against Finland, and the quarterfinal matchups were finalized after the conclusion of the preliminary round.

The quarterfinals will see the Czech Republic play Sweden, the United States face Italy, Canada meet Germany and Finland take on Switzerland. ■