Latvian hockey team | Photo: LHF
The Latvian men's ice hockey team will meet Norway today in its last test match before the World Championship in “Rīga Arena”. The match will start at 16:00, broadcast live on TV6.
On Friday, the Latvians lost to the Norwegians in extra time with 0:1. The goal of the Latvian national team was guarded by Elvis Merzlikins, who was recognized as the best player in the national team. In the previous games, the Latvian ice hockey players defeated Austria twice in the shootout at home with 3:2 and lost to Finland twice with 2:3, but lost to Switzerland 1:5 and 0:4 away.
The Norwegians have celebrated three victories in six games in April. The visitors have shared points with Denmark (1:3, 3:2), but lost twice to Hungary (1:2, 2:3). Then the Danes were defeated 4:3 and 2:1 in overtime at home.
After the match with Switzerland, forwards Miks Indrašis, Raivis Ansons and Swedish champion Mārtiņš Dzierkals, German vice-champion goalkeeper Kristers Gudļevskis, as well as defender Kārlis Čukste joined the Latvian national team, but forwards Kristaps Skrastiņš and Tom Anderson, defender Artūrs Andžans and goalkeeper Ivars Punnenovs are no longer in the national team. .
It also became known that due to injuries, the Swiss championship finalists Rudolfs Balcers and Ronalds Kēniņš will not be able to help the national team this spring. In the Latvian national team, the head coach Harijs Vītoliņš is assisted by coaches Lauris Dārziņš, Artūrs Irbe, Petri Nummelins, Ville Peltonens, Raimonds Vilkoits, video coach Pēteris Groms and physical training specialist Āriks Visockis.
The Latvian national team will go to the world championship in the Czech Republic on May 9.
The 2024 championship will take place in Prague and Ostrava from May 10 to 26.
List of candidates for the Latvian national team:
goalkeepers – Elvis Merzlikin (Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL), Erik Vitols (Keuru “KeuPa”, Finland), Kristers Gudlevsky (Bremerhafen “Fischtown Pinguins”, Germany);
defenders – Jānis Jaks, Kristaps Zīle (Litvīnovas “Verva”, Czech Republic), Roberts Mamčić (“Nove Zamky”, Slovakia), Arvils Bergmanis (University of Alaska Fairbanks, NCAA), Markus Komuls (Trois-Riviera “Lions”, Canada), Roberts Kalkis (“Marseille”, France), Sandis Smons (“La Chaux-de-Fonds”, Switzerland), Ralfs Freiberg (“Mountfield” of Hradeckralov), Oskars Cibulskis (“Blue Fox” of Herning, Denmark), Christopher Bindulis (Mihalovces “Dukla”, Slovakia), Kārlis Čukste (Jēvles “Brynas”, Sweden);
forwards – Oskars Batņa (Mikeli “Jukurit”, Finland), Roberts Bukarts (Vítkovice “Ridera”, Czech Republic), Filips Buncis (Vestervíkas IK, Sweden), Renars Krastenberg (Graz “99ers”, Austria), Haralds Egle (Liptovski Mikuláš “ MHK 32, Slovakia), Rihards Marenis (Nibro Vikings, Sweden), Oskars Lapinskis (Langnavs Tigers, Switzerland), Martins Lavins (University of New Hampshire, NCAA), Felix Gavar (University of St. Lawrence, NCAA), Dan Lochmelis (University of Massachusetts Emerst, NCAA), Andris Džeriņš (Herning Blue Fox, Denmark), Kaspars Daugavins (Mihalovce Dukla, Slovakia), Eduards Tralmaks (Kladno Rytīrži, Czech Republic), Raivis Ansons (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins”, AHL), Miks Indrašis (Jēvles “Brynas”, Sweden), Mārtiņš Dzierkals (Šellefteo AIK, Sweden).