PHOTO ⟩ The Latvian hockey team loses against Poland in the first test match

In preparation for the tournaments, the national team played a three-on-three overtime for practice, but no goals were scored. In the continuation, a series of post-match shots was played, in which Latvia lost 1:3, the home team captain Kaspars Daugaviņš shot accurately, while Mika Indraš, Mārtiņš Dzierkals, Haraldas Egles and Golovkov’s shots did not reach their goal.

On Friday, both national teams will play another test match behind closed doors at 17:00 in the “Daugavas” ice hall. The game will be watched live on the “tv3.lv” portal.

On April 22 and 23, Latvia will play as a guest against Great Britain, while on April 28 and 29, “Arena Rīga” will host matches with the Swiss team. The Latvian national team will conclude the preparation phase with a match against the Danish national team on May 4.

The World Championship, which will be held jointly in the Finnish cities of Tampere and Riga, will take place from May 12 to 28.

One group match will take place in Riga, where Canada, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Slovakia, Latvia, Norway, Kazakhstan and Slovenia will compete, as well as two quarter-final matches.

Lauris Dārziņš, Artūrs Irbe, Artis Ābols, Peteri Nummelins and Raimonds Vilkoits will assist Hari Vītoliņš in his work with the national team.

List of candidates for the Latvian national team:

goalkeepers – Ivars Punnenov (“Lausanne”, Switzerland), Marius Bajarun-Galej (“Zemgale” of Jelgava/LLU), Aksel Ozols (Hockey school “Riga”);

defenders – Uvis Jānis Balinskis (Liberecs “Bīlī Tygrži”, Czech Republic), Kristaps Zīle, Jānis Jaks, Ralf Freiberg (all – Litvinovas “Verva”, Czech Republic), Kristofers Bindulis (Česke Budejovice “Motor”, Czech Republic), Patrik Ozols ( “Dukla” of Trenčín, Slovakia), Arvil Bergmanis (University of Alaska Fairbanks, NCAA), Roberts Mamcic (“Nove Zamky”, Slovakia), Ralfs Bergmanis (University of Vermont, NCAA);

forwards – Kaspars Daugavins (Iserlon “Roosters”, Germany), Oskars Batnia (Mikeli “Jukurit”, Finland), Filips Buncis (“Nitra”, Slovakia), Miks Indrašis (Schwenningen “Wild Wings”, Germany), Renars Krastenberg (Stockholm AIK, Sweden), Mārtiņš Dzierkals (Česke Budejovice “Motor”, Czech Republic), Ronalds Kēniņš (“Lausanne, Switzerland), Georgs Golovkovs (Sodertalje, Sweden), Haralds Egle, Oskars Lapinskis (both – Langnava “Tigers”, Switzerland), Rihards Melnalksnis (Zurich “Lions”, Switzerland).