Minnesota Duluth fifth-year senior defenseman Ashton Bell scored in her Olympic debut with Canada on Thursday as the reigning world champions opened with a 12-1 victory over Switzerland.
Bell, who has taken a sabbatical this season from UMD to play for Canada, was credited with a goal and assist. Her goal came off a rebound, giving Canada a 10-1 lead in the third period. Former Bulldogs forward Lara Stalder picked up the lone goal for Switzerland in the third period to make it 9-1.
1/23: Ashton Bell of Canada scores the tenth goal during the 2022 Olympics at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
2/23: Ashton Bell of Canada celebrates scoring the tenth goal during the 2022 Beijing Olympics at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny
3/23: Lara Stalder of Switzerland celebrates scoring a goal with team mates Alina Muller of Switzerland, Lara Christen of Switzerland and Dominique Ruegg of Switzerland during the 2022 Olympics at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny
4/23: Natalie Spooner of Canada and Lara Stalder of Switzerland in action during the 2022 Olympics at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny
5/23: Lara Stalder of Switzerland celebrates the first goal for the team during the 2022 Beijing Olympics at National Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/David W Cerny
6/23: Kassy Betinol of China in action with Aneta Tejralova of Czech Republic during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
7/23: Hannah Miller of People's Republic of China celebrates scoring their first goal with Jessica Wong of People's Republic of China during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
8/23: Toko Haruka of Japan in action with Emma Soderberg of Sweden and Mina Waxin of Sweden during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
9/23: Ukita Rui of Japan in action with Emma Soderberg of Sweden during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
10/23: Emma Soderberg of Sweden in action during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
11/23: Emma Soderberg of Sweden makes a save during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
12/23: Emma Soderberg of Sweden in action during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
13/23: Emma Soderberg of Sweden makes a save during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
14/23: Emma Soderberg of Sweden in action during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
15/23: Ukita Rui of Japan in action with Emma Soderberg of Sweden and Anna Kjellbin of Sweden during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
16/23: Toko Haruka of Japan in action with Anna Kjellbin of Sweden and Emma Soderberg of Sweden during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
17/23: Toko Haruka of Japan shoots at goal as Emma Soderberg of Sweden makes a save during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
18/23: Emma Soderberg of Sweden makes a save during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
19/23: Maddie Rooney of United States is shown during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
20/23: Hannah Brandt of United States and Maddie Rooney of United States react during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
21/23: Petra Nieminen of Finland in action with Lee Stecklein of United States and Maddie Rooney of United States during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
22/23: Maddie Rooney of United States in action during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre in Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
23/23: Maddie Rooney of United States and Megan Bozek of United States celebrate after the game during the 2022 Olympics at Wukesong Sports Centre, Beijing, China on February 3, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Bulldogs senior goaltender Emma Soderberg, who is missing the final month of the regular season to play in the Olympics, made 37 saves on 39 shots for Sweden in a 3-1 loss to Japan. She was seen still sporting her UMD pads in her Olympic debut with Sweden, which is without No. 1 goaltender Sara Grahn. The three-time Olympian who was supposed to play in her fourth Winter Games tested positive for COVID-19 just before the tournament.
Soderberg was one of four Bulldogs who made their Olympic debut Thursday in Beijing. Katerina Mrazova made her debut for Czechia against China, winning 3-1. It was the first ever Olympic contest for the Czechia women's hockey program.
Kassy Betinol and Jessica Wong made their Olympic debuts with China in the loss, with Wong assisting on China's lone goal.
Former Bulldogs goaltender Maddie Rooney finished with 10 saves on 12 shots as the United States opened with a 5-2 victory over Finland. The game originally ended with Rooney making nine saves on 10 shots in a 5-1 U.S. win, but video review after the final buzzer showed Finland scored with 2:20 to play, so the two teams replayed the final 2:20 of the game.
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