Yan Juncheng (L) of China celebrates scoring with teammate Zhang Zesen in the Men's Ice Hockey Group A match against Thailand at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, on Feb. 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)

HARBIN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- China dominated Thailand 8-0 to clinch their first win in the Men's Ice Hockey Group A match at the Harbin 2025 Asian Winter Games on Friday.

After losing to Team Republic of Korea and Team Kazakhstan in their first two games of the tournament, Chinese players played aggressively in offense, building a 3-0 lead in the first period. Zhang Pengfei, Zhang Zesen, and Wang Jing then helped the team extend the advantage to 6-0. The final period saw Wang net his second goal, while Yan Juncheng completed a hat-trick, sealing an 8-0 win for China.

China's goalkeeper Chen Shifeng (R) tries to make a save during the match. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)

In other matches on Friday, the Republic of Korea defeated Japan 5-2, while Kazakhstan crushed Chinese Taipei 17-0.

After three rounds of competition, Kazakhstan leads Group A with an unbeaten record, followed by the Republic of Korea, Japan, and China. Thailand and Chinese Taipei, both without a victory, rank fifth and sixth, respectively.