Frans Nielsen ended a 15-year NHL career and returned to Europe to play in the German Eisbären Berlin before the season.
The 37-year-old had a goal in mind: To help Denmark to its first ever Olympics on the men's side, and in August it became a reality after defeating Norway in the qualifiers.
Once in Beijing, the Danes got a taste of the Olympic adventure.
Malmö back Markus Lauridsen gave the team the lead eleven minutes into the match and just before the end of the first period it was Frans Nielsen's turn to step forward.
Nielsen, who was the first Dane to play in the NHL, managed a penalty when he coolly lifted a backhand into the net.
The Czech Republic pressed and reduced early in the middle, but there were no more goals than that - despite a massive pressure at the end where a post hit saved Denmark with only seconds left.
Goalkeeper Sebastian Dahm saved a total of 39 shots.
Denmark won 2–1.