2022 Beijing Olympics – Ice Hockey – Men’s Prelim. Round – Group A – Germany v China – National Indoor Stadium, Beijing, China – February 12, 2022. Wang Taile of China celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
BEIJING— China lost 3-2 to Germany in men’s ice hockey at the Beijing Winter Games on Saturday but celebrated just the same after giving the 2018 silver medalists a fright and scoring historic first goals.
Thumped 8-0 by the United States in their Olympic debut on Thursday, China looked headed to another lopsided defeat as Germany constructed a 3-0 lead midway through the game.
But China, playing with the belief that was missing against the U.S., came to life in the late stages of the contest with Fu Shuai scoring the hosts first ever Olympic goal in the second period and Wang Taile adding a powerplay tally in the third.
Canadian-born Fu made a bit of China sporting history with 46 seconds left in the second when he was left unmarked to the side of the German net and picked the top corner on Mathias Niederberger.
The goal triggered the biggest reaction heard in the National Indoor Stadium with the puck headed to the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Hall of Fame in Zurich.
2022 Beijing Olympics – Ice Hockey – Men’s Prelim. Round – Group A – Germany v China – National Indoor Stadium, Beijing, China – February 12, 2022. Germany players celebrate after the match. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
“For me it is obviously a huge honor and I will definitely remember it for a long time,” said Fu, known as Parker Foo when he was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fifth round pick of 2017 NHL draft.
“There was no quitting in our team tonight. Obviously getting down three (goals), a lot of teams pack it in at that point but we have been working so long that we weren’t ready to give up.”
The arena was still buzzing when China added a second with Wang, another of China’s Canadian-born players.
Marcel Brandt, Kobinian Holzer and Dominik Kahun each counted once for Germany.
In other Group A action, a speedy United States raced past Canada 4-2 to win the battle of North American neighbors.
With their victory the unbeaten U.S. moved top of the Group A standings with record of 2-0 followed by Canada and Germany on 1-1 and 0-2 China.
The Canada and U.S. clash was a contrast in philosophies and styles with the Americans mounting their gold medal challenge around a young energetic core of 15 college players.
Canada, meanwhile, is going with a mix of youth and experience with 17-year National Hockey League veteran Eric Staal at one end of the spectrum and Owen Power, the number one overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft at the other.
From the opening faceoff the contest was played at a furious pace with Matt Robinson getting Canada onto the scoreboard first.
But the U.S. would hit back with goals from Andy Miele, Ben Meyers and Brendan Brisson to take a lead they would never surrender.
A short-handed effort from Canada’s Corban Knight trimmed the U.S. advantage to one but a Kenny Agostino slap shot restored the two goal cushion.