Korea loses to Canada but advances to ice hockey knockout stage

Cho Byung-suk, right, of Korea in action against Anton Jacobs-Webb of Canada during a group stage game at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

Korea's para ice hockey team dropped their second game of the 2022 Beijing Olympics on Tuesday, losing 6-0 to Canada at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing.

Korea got off to a slow start, dropping two points in the first period and then another in the second period to fall behind 3-0. Korea fought back in the third period but was unable to score, conceding another three points.

The Korean team had just four shots on goal while Canada had 42. Korea had 36 saves to Canada's four.

The result wasn't entirely unexpected. According to the world para ice hockey rankings, which are currently determined based on the results of the Ostrava 2021 World Para Ice Hockey World Championships, Canada is the No. 2 team in the world. Korea is ranked at No. 4 after finishing that tournament in fourth place.

Korea is competing in Group A at the Paralympics alongside Canada and the United States. The group was also supposed to include Russia, but the country has been banned from competing following the invasion of Ukraine. With the top three teams from each group advancing, Korea reaches the knockout stage despite losing both its group games.

The United States secured first place in the group and earned the right to bypass the qualification finals and advance straight to the semifinals. Canada takes second and Korea third.

With the two groups separated by ranking — Group A contains the top-ranked teams in the world, while Group B contains teams No. 5 through 8 — Canada also advances straight to the semifinals.

As the third placed country in Group A, Korea will take on the third place from Group B on Wednesday. As of press time, Italy is in third place with one win and one loss.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]