Pucks Drop at 24th Winter Universiade

China (W) scores against Slovakia

Women’s Ice Hockey

SVK – CHN: 3-5 (0-1, 3-2, 0-2)
JIN FENGLING, the Number 12 on China’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team made the history books today as she scored the first goal in the first ever Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament of the Winter Universiade. Indeed, the 24th Winter Universiade in Harbin, China figures Women’s Ice Hockey as a compulsory sport for the first time in FISU history. This inaugural tournament will see 6 teams at the face-off: China, Canada, Finland, Japan, Slovakia and Great Britain.
In the first game of this inaugural tournament host China beat Slovakia 5 to 3. Starting strong in the first period, China took the lead. In the second period, the Slovaks got back on their feet and returned into the game equalizing the score. The last period however, Team China recovered and put two more goals on the scoreboard, winning their first game.

GBR – CAN: 0-11 (0-3, 0-5, 0-3)
Gold medal contender Canada performed extremely well and easily won against Great Britain 11 to 0, achieving its first victory in the 24th Winter Universiade.
JPN – FIN 0-4 (0-2, 0-2, 0-0)
At 16h00 this afternoon, the Harbin Ice Hockey Gym witnessed the third game in the Women’s Preliminary competition between Finland and Japan. Finland defeated Japan 4 to 0.

Men’s Ice Hockey

GBR – CZE: 0-10 (0-1, 0-5, 0-4)
Bad day for the Brits as also the men’s team lost its opener against the Czech Republic. The Czechs beat them 10 to 0.

CHN – KAZ: 0-10 (0-5, 0-4, 0-1)

China’s Men’s Team started their campaign on a bad note as they lost their first game of the competition against a strong playing Kazakhstan. The Kazakhs beat the Chinese 10 to 0. The first assignment for Belgian Linesman Chris Deweerdt, the only official without a team present, as Belgium did not send a team to WU.

China vs. Slovakia: a fierce battle

Kazakhstan scores

Sole Belgian official, Linesman Chris Deweerdt awaits to face-off the puck