It was a tough start for Team Canada in boys’ hockey at the very first Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria on Friday.

Team Canada lost 4-3 to Team Russia in the first day of the tournament. Defenceman Egor Tsvetkov led the Russians with a goal and an assist. Captain Ivan Nikolishin also notched a multi-point game with two assists.

Reid Gardner of the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League led Team Canada in scoring with a goal and an assist. Joe Hicketts of the Okanagan Hockey Academy also recorded a multi-point game with two assists. Other Canadian goal scorers were Ryan Pilon of Duck Lake, Saskatchewan who plays for the Beardy’s Blackhawks in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League and Adam Brooks of Winnipeg.

Canada next plays the United States Sunday at 10am MT. The Winter Youth Olympic Games are for athletes 14 to 18 years of age.