U.S. Women’s Hockey Crushes Czechia in Opener (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Milan-Cortina – Team USA athletes jumped into action at the 2026 Winter Olympics, posting strong showings in hockey and snowboarding one day ahead of the Opening Ceremony.[1][2]
U.S. Women’s Hockey Crushes Czechia in Opener
The American women wasted no time asserting dominance, routing Czechia 5-1 in their preliminary round debut at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.[2] They outshot their opponents 14-3 in the first period alone, building a 3-0 lead before Czechia clawed back one goal.
Alex Carpenter opened the scoring on a power play, redirecting a shot from Megan Keller with help from Laila Edwards. Joy Dunne notched her first Olympic goal early in the second, assisted by Tessa Janecke. Hayley Scamurra followed suit with her first tally, also set up by Janecke.[2] Barbora Jurickova pulled one back for Czechia on a breakaway, but Hilary Knight restored order with a slick individual effort. Scamurra sealed the win with her second goal late.
- Alex Carpenter: 1 goal (power play)
- Joy Dunne: 1 goal (Olympic debut)
- Hayley Scamurra: 2 goals
- Hilary Knight: 1 goal
- Tessa Janecke: 2 assists
Aerin Frankel stood tall in net for the U.S., limiting damage after the lone Czechia score. The victory sets up a matchup against Finland on February 7.[3]
Ollie Martin Powers Through to Snowboard Big Air Final
Teen sensation Ollie Martin delivered under pressure, qualifying as the lone American for the men’s snowboard big air final with a strong 85.25 score on one run.[4][5] He rebounded from a fall on his first attempt to land clean efforts under the lights in Livigno.
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Fellow U.S. riders Red Gerard and Jake Canter impressed with backside 1800 jumps during qualifying, though only Martin advanced from the stacked field.[6] The event kicked off snowboarding competition, highlighting the sport’s high-flying demands ahead of the full program.
Mixed Doubles Curling Provides Additional Momentum
Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin steered Team USA to a pair of wins in mixed doubles curling, topping Norway 8-6 in a comeback and Switzerland 7-4.[6] They erased a 6-4 deficit against Norway with a final-stone victory.
These results bolster early standings, with Canada and Czechia next on the schedule Friday. Curling joined hockey and snowboarding as pre-ceremony highlights for the U.S.
| Event | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Women’s Hockey | Czechia | 5-1 Win |
| Men’s Snowboard Big Air Qual. | – | Ollie Martin Advances |
| Mixed Doubles Curling | Norway | 8-6 Win |
| Mixed Doubles Curling | Switzerland | 7-4 Win |
Building Toward Medal Contention
These performances signal Team USA’s depth across disciplines as the Milan-Cortina Games unfold through February 22. Figure skating team event results also placed the U.S. atop early leaderboards.[7]
With 232 athletes on site, the largest contingent, expectations run high for golds in familiar strongholds like hockey and new opportunities in emerging events.
Key Takeaways:
- U.S. women’s hockey rolls 5-1, led by Scamurra’s brace.
- Ollie Martin sole American in big air final.
- Curling pair sweeps opening matches for perfect start.
Team USA enters the Opening Ceremony with momentum, poised for a medal haul. What events are you watching most? Share in the comments.
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