MILAN, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Both Qiu Dianpeng and Tian Jintao scored hat-tricks as China opened its ice hockey campaign at the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympic Games with a 12-0 rout of Germany on Saturday.
Liu Wenxu and Wang Zhidong added two goals each for China, the bronze medalist from Beijing 2022, who met little resistance on its way to the first win.
"We've made lots of improvement in the past four years. We trust each other and we play more like a team," Qiu said. "I think we are a better team now, and I'm thinking of a better result this time."
All eight teams were in action on the opening day, with the Czech Republic edging Japan 3-2, defending champion the United States trouncing host Italy 14-1, and Canada breezing past Slovakia 8-0.
The teams are split into two groups with the best two teams of each group advancing to the semifinals. ■
