Winter Paralympics 2026: USA rout hosts Italy 14-1 to open men's Para ice hockey title defence campaign

Team USA began their quest for a fifth consecutive men's Para ice hockey gold medal with a 14-1 win against Italy at Milano Cortina 2026.

The defending Paralympic champions outclassed the hosts on Saturday (7 March), though not after an early scare when they conceded inside 25 seconds.

Nonetheless, the U.S. recovered outstandingly in their opening preliminary round match. Declan Farmer led the way with four goals and two assists, while defenseman Noah Grove was the main provider thanks to his five assists.

Almost 9,000 people came out for the blockbuster match at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, showing the city's hockey fever hasn't waned after the Winter Olympics. There was no shortage of pride for the home team, who received a standing ovation in their lap of honour from a passionate crowd.

In the other Group A game on Day 1, the People’s Republic of China swept past Germany in a 12-0 victory. Qiu Dianpeng and Tian Jintao both recorded hat-tricks, as the bronze medallists from their home Paralympics four years ago opened their campaign flawlessly.

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Milano Cortina 2026 – Team USA free flowing in first match of Winter Paralympics

If the Milan crowd was not previously familiar with ‘Free Bird’, those in attendance for the USA's opener will not be able to get the 1970s tune out of their head. The U.S. have scored a combined 44 goals across their last five Paralympic matches, dating back to the Beijing 2022 gold run.

Following Christoph Depaoli’s euphoric goal on the rebound for Italy, the USA hit back through David Eustace’s equaliser three minutes later. Having fended off the Italian pressure, Brett Bolton pounced on a loose puck to turn the game in the United States’ favour, followed by Farmer’s finish into the roof of the net.

Team USA did not wait around in the second period and convincingly took control of affairs. Bolton extended the advantage 99 seconds after the puck drop, followed by three goals in 63 seconds from McKee, Farmer and Kayden Beasley.

The Italians made a goalkeeper change following the seventh goal in favour of 56-year-old Stalino Stillitano, but it was not sufficient to stave off the U.S. pressure as Noah Grove notched the eighth goal of the day. Farmer completed his hat-trick in the 23rd minute and subsequently added his fourth barely 50 seconds later.

USA found an 11th goal through Malik Jones’ close-range finish, quickly followed in succession by points from Evan Nichols and Jack Wallace. Eustace’s second goal added icing to the champions’ cake, moving them into top spot in the group.

Next up for the USA is Germany on Monday (9 March), while Italy will look to bounce back against the People’s Republic of China. In Group B, Czechia defeated Japan 3-2, while Canada take on Slovakia in the last game of the opening day of full competition.

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