The Olympic Athletes from Russia and United States were shock losers Wednesday as the first Winter Olympic men's hockey tournament in 24 years without NHL players began with plenty of drama and thrills. Slovakia's Peter Ceresnak scored the game-winning goal with 11:30 remaining in a 3-2 victory over the favoured Russians by a team assembled days ago by a Canadian coach who can't even talk to all his players.
"We have a lot of young players. It's a great experience for them," said Slovakia's Ladislav Nagy, a 38-year-old left wing who played eight NHL seasons. "Today is the big win for us, a team win. It's really good for the confidence." Slovenia's Jan Mursak, a forward for Swedish side Frolunda, scored the equaliser with 97 seconds remaining in regulation time and netted the winner 38 seconds into over-time for a 3-2 comeback shocker over the Americans in group-stage play at Pyeongchang.
The Americans, who play the Russians on Saturday, took a 1-0 lead 17:44 into the game on a goal by KHL Helsinki Jokerit forward Brian O'Neill, who assisted on Greenway's goal 12:57 into the second period for a 2-0 lead. But Blaz Gregorc lifted Slovenia within 2-1 with 14:11 remaining and Mursak's late heroics spoiled the Americans' hopes.-
Jordan Greenway, a Boston University star who became the first African-American player on a US Olympic hockey team, scored in a losing cause. National Hockey League owners had sent players to the Olympics since 1998 but money and injury issues pushed them not to shut down this season for players to compete, so most rosters are stocked from the KHL and other European circuits.
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