Olympic Hockey Results 2022: Friday Scores, Highlights for Women's Games
Feb 4, 2022
China's players celebrate victory during the women's preliminary round group B match of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games ice hockey competition between Denmark and China, at the Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing on February 4, 2022. (Photo by Sebastien Bozon / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)
Friday featured a light schedule for women's hockey at the 2022 Olympics with just two games.
China and the Russian Olympic Committee began their quest for gold in Beijing with victories. Both teams scored three unanswered goals to pull away in their respective wins.
Polina Bolgareva finished with a hat trick in the Russian Olympic Committee's 5-2 victory over Switzerland.
China and Denmark played a thriller in the first game on Friday. Malene Frandsen made history when she scored the first Olympic goal for the Danish women's team in the first period to give her squad a 1-0 lead.
Denmark was able to maintain its advantage until late in the second period. Yu Baiwei and Wang Yuting assisted Lin Qiqi to get China on the board.
The game looked like it was headed for overtime with the score tied 1-1 in the final minute of regulation. Qiqi took over at that point, though, first by setting up Lin Ni on the go-ahead goal with 50.9 seconds left to play.
After Denmark pulled goalie Cassandra Repstock-Romme to get an extra skater on the ice, Qiqi sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 32 seconds left to play.
The win marked China's first women's hockey victory at the Olympics since Feb. 12, 1998. This is the country's first appearance at the Winter Games since finishing seventh overall in 2010.
Denmark has a quick turnaround for its next game against Japan on Saturday at 3:40 a.m. ET. China will square off with Japan on Sunday at 3:40 a.m. ET.
Things weren't quite as dramatic in the Russian Olympic Committee's 5-2 win over Switzerland, though it did feature its own type of excitement.
Yekaterina Dobrodeyeva put the Russians ahead 1-0 less than six minutes into the first period.
A penalty on Yelena Dergachyova gave Switzerland a power-play opportunity late in the first period, though, and Lara Stalder took advantage of it with a game-tying goal with 2:44 remaining before the first intermission.
The good vibes didn't last long for Switzerland, as Bolgareva put the Russian Olympic Committee back on top 13 seconds after Stalder's goal.
The Swiss team got back into the game on Alina Muller's shorthanded marker in the second period. The Russian Olympic Committee kicked things into gear from that point, starting with Anna Shibanova's go-ahead goal with 9:30 remaining in the second period.
Bolgareva scored two goals in less than five minutes of game time between the end of the second period and start of the third period to put the Russian Olympic Committee ahead 5-2.
"It was a really hard game for us because we didn’t have practice a lot of times," Bolgareva told reporters after the win. "I’m really happy. It’s my first Olympics. My teammates did it all for me. They gave me perfect passes."
Maria Sorokina stopped 28 of 30 shots in goal for the Russian Olympic Committee. Swiss counterpart Andrea Braendli fared much better in this game than she did in the opener, when Canada scored 12 goals on 70 shots. The 24-year-old stopped 26 of 31 attempts in Friday's loss.
The Russian Olympic Committee has a huge test against Team USA on Saturday at 8:10 a.m. ET. Switzerland's next game will also be against the Americans on Sunday at 8:10 a.m. ET.
Olympic Hockey Results 2022: USA, Canada and Thursday's Top Women's Scores
Feb 3, 2022
USA's Amanda Kessel (2-R) and Finland's Julia Liikala vie for the puck during their women's preliminary round group A match of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games ice hockey competition, at the Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing on February 3, 2022. (Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP) (Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images)
It was only the first day of the
women's hockey tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics, but longtime
rivals Canada and the United States already appeared on another gold-medal
collision course.
The Canadians were downright dominant
in a 12-1 win over Switzerland, while the Americans took care of
business against a medal contender in Finland 5-2.
Japan and the Czech Republic were the
other winners from Thursday's action in Beijing.
Thursday's Results
Czech Republic 3, China 1
Canada 12, Switzerland 1
Japan 3, Sweden 1
United States 5, Finland 2
Day 1 Recap
Perhaps what's most impressive about
Canada's rout of Switzerland is that it racked up a dozen goals
without Marie-Philip Poulin, arguably the top women's player, finding
the net and recording just a single assist. It's a testament to the
team's depth.
Four players scored at least two goals
(Sarah Fillier, Natalie Spooner, Blayre Turnbull and Laura Stacey)
and a trio of skaters picked up at least three assists (Spooner,
Claire Thompson and Rebecca Johnston) as Canada opened the scoring
after just a minute and never looked back.
The Canadians finished the game with an
eye-popping 70 shots on goal.
After a hard-fought opening 10 minutes,
the United States was able to seize control of its opener with a pair
of goals less than three minutes apart by Amanda Kessel and Alex
Carpenter.
Team USA put the game out of reach with
a strong second period when it outshot the Finns 19-2. Kendall Coyne
Schofield scored both goals in the frame to increase the lead to 4-0.
Carpenter added her second of the day for the U.S. in the third, while Susanna Tapani scored twice for Finland on the power play.
One key question coming out of the
contest is the health of Brianna Decker, who was stretchered off the
ice in the first period after getting hit from behind. She didn't
return to the contest.
Several screams from star U.S. forward Brianna Decker as she got clipped from behind less than 10 minutes into her Olympics. Alert as she's taken off ice. (Getty) pic.twitter.com/mm6xN7pveo
China, as the host nation, is taking
part in the women's hockey tournament for the first time since 2010.
It received a strong performance from goalie Chen Tiya, who made 33
saves, to remain competitive against a Czech side with a shot at the
podium.
Tereza Radova, Denisa Krizova and
Michaela Pejzlova were the goal scorers for the Czech Republic. Mi Le netted the only goal for the hosts.
Japan provided the only upset of the
day with its triumph over Sweden.
Shiori Koike opened the scoring late in the first
period for the Japanese, who have never finished better
than sixth in the Olympics. After Maja Nylen-Persson tied
the game for the Swedes, Rui Ukita put Japan ahead for good. Haruna
Yoneyama added an empty-netter to seal the win.
She wanted it. She got it. She scored.
Japan gets the icebreaker late in the first period thanks to Shiori Koike! #WinterOlympics
How will NHL's decision to opt out of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing affect the quality of the men's hockey play and, more specifically, Team USA? Just who are the men who ...
USA vs. Finland Women's Hockey Live Stream Schedule, Odds
Feb 2, 2022
United States' Hilary Knight (21) celebrates after scoring during the third period of a women's exhibition hockey game against Canada ahead of the Beijing Olympics Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in Maryland Heights, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
The United States will open its gold-medal defense at the Winter Olympics on Thursday in Beijing.
Team USA will take the ice against Finland in the last of four games spread across the day. Making a solid first impression in a group that includes reigning world champion Canada will be imperative.
            Â
When:Â Thursday, Feb. 3 at 8:10 a.m. ET
Watch: USA Network
Live Stream: Peacock
Odds (via DraftKings): United States -4000 (bet $4000 to win $100); Finland +1100 (bet $100 to win $1,100)
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Finland and the United States were also drawn into the same group four years ago. Team USA was a 3-1 winner thanks to goals from Monique Lamoureux-Morando, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Dani Cameranesi.
Then the U.S. swept aside the Finns 5-0 in the semifinals.
The same story played out at the 2021 Women's World Championship. The United States prevailed 3-0 over Finland in the group stage and won by the same score in the semis. Those results epitomize Finland's history on the world stage. The country has collected three bronze medals in the Winter Olympics to go along with one silver and 13 bronzes in the World Championship.
Finland is consistently one of the top teams in Europe but time and again gets stymied by the United States or Canada in the knockout stages.
This isn't necessarily a battle-tested roster for head coach Pasi Mustonen, either. Lucas Aykroyd of the IIHF's official site noted how Finland has 13 first-time Olympians.
The United States, by comparison, has eight players participating in their first Winter Olympics. Hilary Knight is set to feature in her fourth Games, while the quartet of Coyne Schofield, Brianna Decker, Amanda Kessel and Lee Stecklein are embarking on their third trips.
Having missed the most recent World Championship, goaltender Maddie Rooney is back in the squad as well. She boasted a 1.16 goals-against average and a .946 save percentage in four starts at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
"When I think about Finland, it's a heck of a draw, but I think it's a perfect way to start," head coach Joel Johnson said. "It's going to be one of those situations where if we don't show up ready to go we're going to be in for a long day."
Finland is the third-ranked team in the world for a reason. With six goals, Petra Nieminen was the co-leading scorer alongside Canada's Melodie Daoust at the 2021 Worlds, and Anni Keisala acquitted herself nicely between the pipes in place of Noora Raty.
The United States is the heavy favorite for a reason. Team USA has had Finland's number of late, and generally speaking, the roster hasn't experienced much of a talent drain between the 2018 Winter Olympics and now.
But the U.S. will find itself the victim of a big upset if it starts off flat-footed Thursday.
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Canada Olympic Hockey Team 2022: Men's, Women's Starting Rosters, Top Subs
Feb 1, 2022
EDMONTON, AB - JANUARY 05: Goaltender Devon Levi #1 of Canada defends Trevor Zegras #9 of the United States during the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship gold medal game at Rogers Place on January 5, 2021 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
Canada has always been considered the world's preeminent force in both men's and women's hockey, but its players will be put to the test at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, which gets underway Wednesday.
On the men's side, NHL players once again won't be competing in the tournament—this time because of COVID-19's impact on the 2021-22 season. So former NHLers and college players mostly comprise Team Canada, leaving it as the fourth-favorite to win gold at 7-1.
As for the women, Canada finished with a silver medal at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, falling 3-2 to the United States in a shootout. Before 2018, the Canadian women had won four straight gold medals. Canada is the 18-19 second-favorite to claim gold in China.
Before the tournaments begin, here is a look at Team Canada's rosters, in addition to a look at which players to keep an eye out for.
Canada Olympic Men's Hockey Roster
Devon Levi, goalie, Northeastern University (NCAA)
Edward Pasquale, goalie, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
Ashton Bell, defenseman, University of Minnesota-Duluth
Renata Fast, defenseman, PWHPA
Jocelyne Larocque, defenseman, PWHPA
Ella Shelton, defenseman, PWHPA
Claire Thompson, defenseman, PWHPA
Micah Zandee-Hart, defenseman
Emily Clark, forward, PWHPA
Melodie Daoust, forward, PWHPA
Sarah Fillier, forward, Princeton University
Brianne Jenner, forward, PWHPA
Rebecca Johnston, forward, PWHPA
Emma Maltais, forward, Ohio State
Sarah Nurse, forward, PWHPA
Marie-Philip Poulin, forward, PWHPA
Jamie Lee Rattray, forward, PWHPA
Jillian Saulnier, forward, PWHPA
Natalie Spooner, forward, PWHPA
Laura Stacey, forward, PWHPA
Blayre Turnbull, forward, PWHPA
Projected Women's Lineup
G: Ann-Renee Desbiens
D: Jocelyne Larocque
D: Renata Fast
LW: Emily Clark
C: Marie-Philip Poulin
RW: Brianne Jenner
Top subs: Melodie Daoust, Natalie Spooner, Sarah Fillier
Breaking Down Top Canadian Players
Eric Staal
No one on the Canada men's roster has had a more impressive hockey career than Eric Staal.
The 37-year-old was drafted second overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2003 and went on to have an impressive 17-year NHL career. He spent 11-and-a-half seasons with the Hurricanes, most notably helping the team to its first Stanley Cup in 2006.
Staal tallied 322 goals and 453 assists for 775 points in 909 games with the Hurricanes. He is the franchise's all-time leader in games played, goals, assists, points, power-play goals, short-handed goals and game-winning goals.
Carolina traded Staal to the New York Rangers during the 2015-16 campaign. He tallied three goals and three assists for six points in 20 games for the franchise before signing a three-year deal with the Minnesota Wild as a free agent that summer.
Staal spent four seasons with the Wild, tallying 111 goals and 129 points for 240 points in 311 games. He spent the 2020-21 season, his most recent in the NHL, split between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens, tallying a combined 13 points in 53 games.
He signed a PTO with the AHL's Iowa Wild on Jan. 13, giving him an opportunity to work back into playing shape ahead of the Olympics. He has two goals and three assists in four games.
Given his NHL experience and ability to rack up points, Staal should serve as one of Canada's top offensive weapons, and his performance could be a determining factor in whether the Canadians take home gold.
Marie-Philip Poulin
Marie-Philip Poulin is undoubtedly the most talented player on the Canada women's roster. She is competing in her fourth Olympics after winning gold in 2010 and 2014 and silver in 2018.
The 30-year-old rose to fame during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, during which she scored the overtime winner in the gold-medal game against the United States. She then tallied three goals and three assists in five games en route to a silver medal at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.
Since 2018, Poulin has played in the now-discontinued CWHL for the Les Canadiennes de Montreal and more recently for Montreal in the PWHPA.
After winning silver in 2018, Canada's women have vengeance on their minds, and Poulin is expected to be a driving force in the team's quest to bring a gold medal back to Canada.
In a case of history repeating itself, Poulin scored the overtime game-winner when Canada faced the U.S. in last summer's IIHF Women's World Championship final. She is one of the most clutch players in the history of the game, and with the United States returning players such as Kendall Coyne Schofield, Hilary Knight, Brianna Decker and Lee Stecklein, Canada will need her to be on her game.
Owen Power and Devon Levi
While there are several college hockey players on the Canada men's roster, none stack up quite like Owen Power, who was drafted first overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2021.
Power is in his second season with the Michigan Wolverines. After tallying three goals and 13 assists in 26 games during his freshman season, he has notched three goals and 23 assists through 24 games in the 2021-22 campaign.
The 19-year-old represented Canada at the most recent World Juniors, tallying three goals and two assists in two games before the tournament was shut down because of a COVID-19 outbreak.
In addition to Power, Devon Levi is one of the most exciting young goaltenders in hockey.
The 20-year-old is in his first season at Northeastern University, where he has helped backstop the Huskies to a 16-8-1 record. He has a 1.55 goals-against average and .948 save percentage through 24 games.
Levi also represented Canada at the 2021 World Juniors, where he was named the tournament's best goalie after recording a 0.75 GAA, .964 save percentage and three shutouts in seven games.
While Power will be expected to help lock down the blue line, Levi will be tasked with keeping some of the world's best shooters off the scoresheet. While these two are still young, they shouldn't be overlooked.
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Matty Beniers, Jake Sanderson Headline 2022 USA Olympic Hockey Team Roster
Jan 13, 2022
RIGA, LATVIA - MAY 22: Matty Beniers #10 of the United States during the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship group stage game between Finland and United States at Arena Riga on May 22, 2021 in Riga, Latvia. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)
While no NHL players will be competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics, some of the league's biggest prospects will take center stage for USA Hockey when the Games kick off next month in Beijing.
The NHL announced in December that players would not be allowed to compete in the Olympics amid a rise in COVID-19 cases around the league and a pause that impacted the 2021-22 season schedule.
While it's disappointing that NHL players won't be participating in this year's Olympics, here is the list of players that will be representing the United States under head coach David Quinn and general manager John Vanbiesbrouck on foreign soil:
Forwards
Nick Abruzzese: Harvard, NCAA (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Ken Agostino: Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL
Matty Beniers: Michigan, NCAA (Seattle Kraken)
Brendan Brisson: Michigan, NCAA (Vegas Golden Knights)
Drew Helleson: Boston College, NCAA (Colorado Avalanche)
Steven Kampfer: Ak Bars Kazan, KHL
Aaron Ness: Providence Bruins, AHL
Nick Perbix: St. Cloud State, NCAA (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Jake Sanderson, North Dakota, NCAA (Ottawa Senators)
David Warsofsky: ERC Ingolstadt, DEL
Goaltenders
Drew Commesso: Boston University, NCAA (Chicago Blackhawks)
Strauss Mann: Skelleftea AIK, SHL
Pat Nagle: Lehigh Valley Phantoms, AHL
Roster Highlights
Team USA is highlighted by many college athletes, including Beniers, Sanderson, Faber and Commesso. Beniers is arguably the best player on the roster.
The Massachusetts native was drafted second overall by the Seattle Kraken in 2021 after an impressive freshman season at Michigan coupled with highlight performances on the USNTDP Juniors team.
Beniers, a forward, tallied 10 goals and 14 assists in 24 games during his freshman season with the Wolverines in 2020-21. In 22 games this season, the 19-year-old has 12 goals and 14 assists.
In addition to being named to the Olympic roster, Beniers has also represented the United States on several occasions, including the World Junior Championship and the U17 and U18 teams.
Like Beniers, Sanderson, a defenseman, figures to be one of the most impactful players on the U.S. roster. He was drafted fifth overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2020 and has spent the last two seasons at the University of North Dakota.
Sanderson notched two goals and 13 assists in 22 games as a freshman and has six goals and 16 assists in 17 games for The Fighting Hawks this season.
The 19-year-old has also represented the U.S. many times on the U17, U18 and U20 teams.
Faber is another impressive defenseman out of the University of Minnesota. He was selected in the second round of the 2020 draft by the Los Angeles Kings and is in his second season with the Golden Gophers.
Faber has two goals and nine assists in 20 games this season. He has also represented the United States on the U17, U18 and U20 teams.
Meanwhile, Commesso figures to be the Americans' top goaltender. The Boston University product, who was a second-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2020, has appeared in 19 games for the Terriers this season, posting a 2.67 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.
This U.S. roster also features several players who have spent time in the NHL, including Agostino, Warsofsky, Shore and Kampfer.
NHL, NHLPA Agree to Continue Season amid COVID-19; Olympic Participation TBD
Dec 19, 2021
MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 09: A view of the NHL crest on a net prior to the start of the first period between the Montreal Canadiens and the Los Angeles Kings at Centre Bell on November 9, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
The NHL and NHL Players' Association agreed on Sunday to continue to the season amid COVID-19 issues around the league and announced a number of makeup dates for postponed cross-border games in December:
The @NHLPA and @NHL have agreed to continue the 2021-22 regular-season schedule, with details of that agreement outlined at the link below and in this thread.
The statement added that an announcement on the potential participation of NHL players in the upcoming Beijing Games will be forthcoming, opening up the possibility that the 2022 Winter Games will be devoid of NHL athletes.
ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported after those announcements that "Olympic participation for NHL players is now in serious jeopardy."
The league would have gone on pause for three weeks in February during the Olympics tournament, but additional postponements before the Winter Games may force the NHL into a difficult schedule crunch that would be alleviated by not taking that break.
The NHL has until Jan. 10 to pull out of the Olympics without financial penalty.
Kaplan added that both the NHL and NHLPA "view a full schedule pause as a last resort and are hopeful they will be able to avoid it" amid the COVID-19 outbreak around the league and the new Omicron variant.
On Saturday, the league introduced stricter coronavirus protocols, including daily testing through Jan. 1 and the possibility of additional game-day testing amid outbreaks within several teams.
"Given the increased number of positive cases in our league within the last two weeks, and changing societal realities with the new omicron COVID-19 variant, the NHLPA and NHL have collectively agreed that all Clubs shall be required to follow enhanced preventative and detection measures," the league said in a statement.
As of Saturday, 70 players were in the COVID-19 protocols, and the league has already postponed 20 games. The Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers have had games postponed through next week.
The NHL's vaccine participation has been incredibly high, however, with only the Detroit Red Wings' Tyler Bertuzzi remaining unvaccinated.
The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing (Feb. 4-20) are fast approaching. It will mark the first time the NHL will allow players to compete for their countries in the Games since 2014...
Two months out from the Winter Olympics in Beijing, and the United States men's ice hockey team is slowly starting to come into focus. A few bubble options might have played their way both off and onto the roster, sure...
USA Hockey Pres. Jim Smith's Handling of Alleged Sexual Misconduct Investigated
May 28, 2020
ARLINGTON, VA - AUGUST 27: Jerseys bearing participant names are laid out for autographs following a press conference introducing the 2014 USA Hockey Olympic Team candidates at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex on August 27, 2013 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is investigating USA Hockey president Jim Smith for his handling of allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct against an Illinois youth coach, according to Katie Strang of The Athletic.
Several junior hockey players in the Chicago area said Tom "Chico" Adrahtas sexually abused them after he was removed from his assistant coaching job at the University of Minnesota amid abuse allegations, per Strang.Â
After an investigation, he is now "ineligible for membership or participation in any USA Hockey program."
Smith was president of the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois from 1985-88, overlapping with Adrahtas' time as a coach in the local organization.
"The U.S. Center for SafeSport has advised us they have taken jurisdiction and are investigating allegations that people within AHAI, including Jim Smith, were aware of sexual misconduct by Thomas Adrahtas and did not take action," USA Hockey executive director Pat Kelleher said.
A player reportedly sent a letter to AHAIÂ in 2010 detailing how Adrahtas sexually abused him in 1984.
Smith has denied any knowledge of these actions.
"In my time as president of AHAI, there were no reports alleging misconduct by Tom Adrahtas," he said earlier this month, per Strang.
USA Hockey has hired an independent investigator to look into Smith's role during this time.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport was created in 2017Â to help prevent abuse of athletes.
