Americans Thrashed in Opening Game American goalie Patrick Rupplooks back as the puck just passes the goal line , during the first ice hockey game played at the 1968 Winter Olympics Americas opponents in the match which they lost 1 -5 to were Czechoslavakia in front of the American Goal are Josef Cerny ( 15 ) of Czechoslovakia , Craig Falkman ( 5 wearing white jersey ) of the USA Jan Havel ( 21 ) of Czechoslovakiawho scored the goal and American Donald Ross ( 5 ) and Paul Hurley ( 6 ) 7th February 1968