Mexico advanced to the next stage as qualification for the women's ice hockey tournament at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics got underway ©IIHF

Hosts Mexico advanced to the next stage as qualification for the women's ice hockey tournament at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics got underway.

The long road to the Games in South Korea began with a three-nation preliminary round one event at the Ice Dome in Mexico City, with only the winners advancing to round two following a round-robin format.

It was the Mexicans who eased through as group winners, after they thrashed Hong Kong 13-0 and then Turkey 11-5.

They will now travel to Astana in Kazakhstan between November 3 and 6 to contest one of two round two groups.

As well as the hosts, they will also play Great Britain and Poland with only the winners advancing to round three.

The third stage is the penultimate qualifying round before two final groups to decide Pyeongchang places will be held in February.

Quadruple Olympic gold medallists Canada are one of the countries to have already qualified ©Getty Images
Quadruple Olympic gold medallists Canada are one of the countries to have already qualified ©Getty Images

Joanna Rojas scored five goals in the two games for Mexico, with Turkey beating Hong Kong 8-2 to finish second.

Six countries have already booked their place in the Pyeongchang tournament, including hosts South Korea.

The remaining five are assured of a spot due to their International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) world ranking, and include Canada, the gold medallists at the last four Olympic Games.

United States, Russia, Finland and Sweden have also qualified automatically, with two places available to join them.