After slow start, United States hockey routs China in 1st Olympic game

Team USA opened the Beijing Olympics men's ice hockey tournament with an 8-0 win over China on Thursday, turning a close game into a blowout thanks to impressive offensive skill from their collection of young players.

Forward Sean Farrell had a five-point game, scoring a hat trick and adding two assists. The Harvard University player, who also played for the USHL Chicago Steel, was a fourth-round draft pick by the Montreal Canadiens in 2020.

«It's awesome to get our first game under our belts. We've been working really hard in practice and coming together as a group off the ice,» said Farrell. «We don't really know what we've got until we step on the ice for the first game. It was a great start for us.»

Forward Ben Meyers had three points (goal and two assists). Goalie Drew Commesso made 29 saves for the shutout. The 19-year-old, who was drafted by the Blackhawks in 2020, is the youngest goalie to ever start for the U.S. men in the Olympics.

For one period, the game was surprisingly competitive. Team USA has a roster made up primarily of NCAA players. China ported over the roster of Kunlun Red Star of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League as its national team. In the first period, experience ruled over skill, as China earned attacking zone time against the Americans, who outshot them 16-11.

Goalie Jeremy Smith was strong for China, but he couldn't stop a quick shot from forward Brendan Brisson on a U.S. power play that gave them a 1-0 lead they would carry into intermission. Brisson, 20, was a 2020 first-round draft pick from the Vegas Golden Knights.

But the Americans pulled away in the second period, as their talent advantage became glaring.

«Obviously, the NHLers can't come. The opportunity for some young guys to come