Due to the growth of the family, the goalkeeper Elvis Merzļikins did not help the national team, the striker Rūdolfs Balcers is waiting for a new contract, who, like Zemgus Girgensons, who has not played this season, is healing the injury. The Stanley Cup is continued by the striker Teodors Bļugers, who has no place in the Latvian national team application. Gunta Galviņa, the long-time national team defender, must be left in this championship, while another player of this position, Krišjānis Rēdlihs, has finished his career in the national team.
Both teams have met 11 times in the world championships in the elite group, winning Latvia in nine. In 2018, Latvia was superior in the extension with 3: 2, but two years ago it won with 4: 1.
The World Cup usually starts in the first week of May, but this year it has been postponed to the end of the month so as not to overlap with the national championship playoffs and the NHL regular tournament.
In subgroup B, where Latvia, Canada, Finland, USA, Germany, Norway, Italy and Kazakhstan, matches take place in “Arena Riga”, but in the subgroup A national team of the Russian Olympic Committee (OKR) team, Sweden, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovakia, Denmark, Belarus and Great Britain spend their duels on the ice rink set up on the football field of the Olympic Sports Center.
In 2022 it is planned to host the tournament for Finland (Helsinki and Tampere), in 2023 – for Russia (St. Petersburg), in 2024 for the Czech Republic (Prague and Ostrava), and in 2025 – for Sweden and Denmark.
The 2021 World Championship in Riga will take place until June 6.
Riga has hosted the World Championships for the only time so far in 2006.
In the LETA section dedicated to the hockey championship (“the latest information is available not only about the progress and success of the Latvian national hockey team, but also the results of other teams and the championship. The events on the ice rinks in Riga will be covered by LETA reporters Dainis Āzens, Harijs Ortveins and Kristaps Plaums.
Composition of the Latvian men’s hockey team at the 2021 World Championship:
Goalkeepers: Ivars Punnenovs (Langnavas “Tigers”, Switzerland), Jānis Kalniņš (Helsinki “Jokerit”, KHL), Matīss Edmunds Kivlenieks (Cleveland “Monsters”, AHL / Columbus “Blue Jackets”, NHL).
Defenders: Jānis Jaks (Bakersfield “Condors”, AHL), Kristiāns Rubīns (Toronto “Marlies”, AHL), Kristaps Sotnieks, Gunārs Skvorcovs, Kristaps Zīle (all – Riga “Dinamo”, KHL), Oskars Cibulskis (both Balvis – Litervinov “Verva”, Czech Republic), Artūrs Kulda (Nuremberg “Ice Tigers”, Germany), Ralph Freibergs (Trinec “Ocelārži”, Czech Republic).
Forwarders: Andris Džeriņš, Lauris Dārziņš, Roberts Bukarts, Rihards Bukarts, Mārtiņš Dzierkals, Gints Meija (all – Riga “Dinamo”, KHL), Rodrigo Ābols (“Orebro”, Sweden), Ronalds Ķēniņš (“Lausanne”, Switzerland), Kaspars Daugaviņš (Moscow region “Vitjaz”, KHL), Mārtiņš Karsums (Krefeld “Pinguine”, Germany), Rihards Marenis (“Kiruna IF”, Sweden), Māris Bičevskis (“Mlada Boleslav”, Czech Republic), Oskars Batņa (Angletas) Hormadi “, France), Renar Krastenberg (Villach, Austria), Michael Redlich (Olimp” / “Venta 2002”), Miks Indrašis (Vitjaz, Moscow region, KHL).
Candidates for the Norwegian men’s hockey team for the 2021 World Cup:
Goalkeepers: Jonas Arntsen (Orebro, Sweden), Henrik Heukelann (Farjestad, Sweden), Henrik Holm (Stavenger Oilers);
Defenders: Christian Bulls (Krefeld “Pinguine”, Germany), Jones Holes (“Linkoping”, Sweden), Christian Kosastul (Stockholm AIK, Sweden), Emil Lilleberg (Sartsberg “Sparta”), Christian Estby (Stavenger’s “Oilers”), Max Krogdal (Asker “Frisk”), Ule Julian Bjergvik-Holm (Cleveland “Monsters”, AHL), Stefan Espelann (“Salzburg”, Austria), Erlen Lesunn (“Rogle”, Sweden);
Attackers: Andreas Heyer (“Stjernen”), Mangnus Breke Henriksen, Tubias Lindström, Martin Reimarks (all – “Valerenga”), Ludwig Hof, Tommy Kristiansen (both – Stavenger “Oilers”), Ken Andre Ulimbs (Düsseldorf EG, Germany) , Thomas Valkwe Ulsen (Asker “Frisk”), Eirik Salsten (“Storhamar”), Samuel Solem (Stockholm AIK, Sweden), Matthias Treteness, Sondre Ulden (both La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland), Michael Hague (Stockholm “Djurgardens”, Sweden), Matthias Emilio Pedesen (Stockholm “Heat”, AHL), Matt Roseli Ulsen (Gothenburg “Frolunda Indians”, Sweden), Matisse Ulimbs (Wolfsburg “Grizzlys”, Germany).
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