Reigning world champions Canada sailed past Sweden, 17-0, to close out the first day of Para ice hockey action at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, scoring seven goals in the game’s first period alone.

Canadian forward Tyler McGregor recorded a hat trick in the game’s first 10 minutes and added another score later in the game to continue his winning ways at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. The last time he set his sledge on this ice, he tallied a hat-trick to help Canada defeat the USA in the gold-medal game at the 2017 World Para Ice Hockey Championships, which also served as the Paralympic Test Event.

“As a team, we’ve had a ton of success in Korea, and we love coming here,” a wide-smiling McGregor said after the game. “Since we’ve been here it’s been amazing, and I had a good week of training leading up living in the village. We’ve been preparing for this since last year’s World Championships, and I love coming back as it feels like home here now.”

In addition to McGregor’s three first-period goals, Bryan Sholomicki scored twice in the opening 15 minutes in his Paralympic debut and Adam Dixon and Dom Cozzolino also both found the net in the first frame.

Canada’s scoring barrage continued into the second period as Ben Delany – a former able-bodied hockey player introduced to the sport by IPC Governing Board Member Todd Nicholson – scored first on the power play, before dual-sport athlete Liam Hickey scored twice and Corbyn Smith and Rob Armstrong also put up points.

In the final period, Sholomicki completed a hat trick of his own; other scorers for Canada in the period included Billy Bridges, Greg Westlake, Armstrong and McGregor.

Canada is now tied with Italy for first place in Group A in the preliminary round with two points apiece.

Every competition as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies can be watched live right here on the International Paralympic Committee’s website. Highlights of each day’s action will also be made available.