Farrell has hat trick, USA dominates China in opener

BEIJING (AP) — Don’t look now, but the young United States hockey team might be fun to watch at the Olympics.

Sean Farrell had a hat trick and delivered one of the team's two no-look assists as the Americans routed China 8-0 Thursday night in the host country's Olympic men's hockey debut.

Farrell delivered his behind-the-back pass from behind the net to Noah Cates and also scored the fourth, fifth and eighth U.S. goals. Andy Miele delivered another no-look assist on Brian O'Neill's goal, Minnesota center Ben Meyers roofed a backhander, and Matty Beniers flashed the offensive ability that made him the second pick in the NHL draft with his goal.

“We all got our feet wet, scored a lot of goals, didn’t let up anything,” said Brendan Brisson, who opened the scoring on the power play midway through the first. “A great start, and we’re just going to be rolling into Canada now.”

After a slow start, the young Americans’ speed and skill were on display and eventually wore down their overmatched opponent. The U.S. outshot China 55-29.

"It was busy in my end, but that was to be expected," said U.S.-born goaltender Jeremy Smith, who kept it close the first half of the game for China and finished with 47 saves. There was little he could do on Brisson’s goal or on Cates’ shot from in front in the second that made it 2-0.

Farrell's no-look pass stood out as the highlight in a game full of them for the U.S.

“I knew one of us was going to be out front, so I just threw it there,” said Farrell, who led the U.S. with five points. “Fortunately, Catesy, it ended up right on his stick and he buried it, so it was a great little play by our line.”

Skating in front of about 1,000 Chinese fans, the home team made up mostly of North American players