2010 - VANCOUVER OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES - WOMEN HOCKEY: CANADA - 18 vs. SLOVAKIA - 0

Ice Hockey: Canada crushes Slovakia 18-0 in record win

Vancouver (AFP) - Canada got their gold medal defence off to a rousing start with a record-setting 18-0 thrashing of Slovakia in their opening game of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games on Saturday.

Jayna Hefford and Meghan Agosta scored three goals each for Canada who set a record for the most lopsided win in women's Olympic hockey tournament history.

Canada also held the previous record for the biggest blowout, a 16-0 demolition of host Italy at the Torino 2006 Olympic Games.

"Our goal was too win the game, work on maintaining good habits and let the puck do the work," said Canada coach Melody Davidson.

"Regardless of the score we are please to see Slovakia competing here."

Hefford finished with a game-high six points in front of a crowd of 16,496 at the Canada Hockey Place arena.

Caroline Ouellette had a goal and four assists and Carla MacLeod had with two goals and two assists for Canada who scored a pair of shorthanded markers just 44 seconds apart in the second period.

Slovakia is making their first appearance in the women's tournament as they were promoted to the top level after winning the qualifying event.

Despite being outshot 67-9 Saturday Slovakia knows what it feels like to be on the other end of a lopsided score - in one of their exhibition games leading up to the Olympics they beat Bulgaria 82-0 in Latvia.

Slovakian coach Miroslav Karafiat said Bulgaria is a new nation to hockey and that game should probably never have happened.

"It was caused by the organization of Bulgaria," Karafiat said. "The Bulgarian team came to play only two weeks after being given their uniform and skates."

Despite Saturday's loss this was the greatest hockey moment for Slovakian defenceman Barbora Bremova who says she typically plays in front of a crowd of about 40 people, made up of mostly family members, at home.

She is one of just 263 registered female players in the country.

"It was an unbelievable experience," Bremova said through a translator. "I am disappointed we lost but it was incredible to play against Canadian players like Hayley Wickenheiser."

Reigning silver medallists Sweden opened the women's tournament earlier in the day by beating Switzerland 3-0.

Goaltender Kim Martin stopped all 16 shots and Uden Johansson had a goal and an assist for Sweden who upset the United States the 2006 Olympic Games to reach the gold medal game.
Martin was largely given credit for helping Sweden beat the United States 3-2 in the semi-finals in Turin. She did not play in the 2009 Worlds because of a knee injury.

This marked the first time that the number four ranked Sweden had played number five ranked Switzerland in the Olympic Games.


CANADA'S REMAINING SCHEDULE:

Monday, February 15 - Switzerland vs. Canada

Wednesday, Feb. 17 - Canada vs. Sweden

Both above games at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time