Nikolajs Jelisejevs scored two goals for the Latvian national team, but Kārlis Čukste, Oskars Batņa and Andris Džeriņš stood out from time to time. Artūrs Šilovs played the “dry” match at the goal.
Šilovs was recognized as the best player in the ranks of the Latvian national team, who fought off 41 opponents.
Elvis Merzļikins and Rūdolfs Balcers, who played in the National Hockey League (NHL), joined the ranks of the national team this week, but on Saturday – also goalkeeper Šilovs. Merzlikin and Balcer were given a rest in this match, but Šilovs fought at the goal.
The home side worked hard to get through the middle and as a result, had a good chance of getting one back. However, in the middle of the period, in the middle of the period, after the shot of Kristaps Zīle at the goal, Deniss Smirnovs forwarded the bounced puck to Jeliseev, who was infallible from a close distance – 1: 0.
In the second half of the period, the Latvians had the opportunity to play in the fifth against three almost full two minutes. Less than ten seconds passed when the big majority was realized with a simple and strong throw by Whisper. Next, the home team got to the big majority, which remained unused, but playing in the fifth to four, the puck played by Yeliseev was kicked into the goal by a Kazakh hockey player – 3: 0.
In the fifth minute of the second period, Batņa found a good throwing position in the counterattack and made a 4-0 shot after a thunderstorm. In the second half of the third, Smirnov slipped alone against the opponent’s goalkeeper, but was unable to take the great opportunity to move further as a result.
In the last minute the opponents tried the game with an empty goal and in the last second the puck was scored by Džeriņš – 5: 0.
Another test match against Kazakhstan will take place on Monday.
Latvian hockey players had already played four test games in preparation for the upcoming world championship. A week ago, Latvians met Switzerland in Weinfelden and suffered two losses with 2: 5 and 1: 3. Last week, Latvian hockey players played test matches with France, first losing 1: 2 and winning 3: 2 a day later.
The Latvian national team at the World Championships in Group B in Tampere crossed sticks with Finland, the USA, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway, Great Britain and Austria. Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Italy and France will play in Group A. Helsinki.
It has already been reported that after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Hockey Federation (IIHF) suspended all Russian and Belarusian national teams and clubs from competitions organized by the IIHF.
Russia and Belarus will be replaced by France and Austria, which ranked the highest selection of countries not expected to play in the top division.
The 2022 World Championships in Finland are scheduled for May 13-29.
List of candidates for the Latvian men’s hockey team in the training camp:
Goalkeepers: Elvis Merzlikins (Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL), Gustav Davis Grigals (University of Alaska Fairbanks, NCAA), Erik Willol (Zemgale / LLU), Artur Shilov (Ebotsford Canucks, AHL);
Defenders: Jānis Jaks (“Sochi”, KHL), Kārlis Čukste (Lahti “Pelicans”, Finland), Kristaps Sotnieks (Riga “Dinamo”, KHL), Roberts Mamčics (“Linkoping”, Sweden), Arvils Bergmanis (University of Alaska, Fairbanks) , NCAA), Ernest Ošenieks (Kiekko-Vantaa, Finland), Artūrs Kulda (Pinguine in Krefeld, Germany), Kristaps Zīle (Orebro, Sweden), Nauris Sējējs (Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) , Sandis Smons (Geneva Servette, Switzerland), Patrick Ozols (Zemgale / LLU);
Attackers: Mārtiņš Dzierkals (Škoda, Pilsen, Czech Republic), Richard Bucharest (Admiral of Vladivostok, KHL), Robert Bucharest (Ridera, Czech Republic), Andris Dzerins (Linz “Black Hawks”, Austria), Richard Maren Vita Hasten, Sweden), Denis Smirnov (Servette, Geneva, Switzerland), Patrick Zabusov (PSG Berani, Zlin, Czech Republic), Oskar Lapinskis (Langnava Tigers, Switzerland), Ronald King (Lausanne), Switzerland), Miks Indrašis (“Biel-Bienne”, Switzerland), Oskars Batņa (Mikeli “Jukurit”, Finland), Renārs Krastenbergs (Villach VSV, Austria), Klāvs Weinbergs, Edgars Kulda (both “Zemgale” / LLU), Rodrigo Abol (Orebro, Sweden), Nikolay Yeliseev (MoDo, Schlesheldsvik, Sweden), Rudolf Balzer (Sharks, KHL, San Jose).
