Ambitious host Canada clinched opening victory at the Vancouver Olympic men's ice hockey tournament on Tuesday.

Dany Heatley and Jarome Iginla scored twice each to lead the Canadian to sweep Norway 8-0 in a Group A match at the Canada Hockey Place.

Assisted by "Golden Boy" Sidney Crosby, Iginla broke the deadlock for Canada two minutes and a half into the second period.

"After the first goal, we started getting more shots. You have to make sure you're still focused and have shots in the right areas," Iginla said. "When it was three, four, five, we just kept pushing it. We need those goals, you don't know how it's going to turn out."

In the other preliminary Group A clash, the United States beat Switzerland 3-1.

In the women's category, Jenny Potter of the United States became the first female ice hockey player to score hat tricks in two consecutive Olympic matches when she contributed three goals in a 13-0 preliminary Group B victory over Russia while Finland came from behind to defeat China 2-1.

The Americans and Finland have both secured their berths in top four with two preliminary wins with Russia and China being sent to 5th-8th deciders.