Latvian U18 hockey team | Photo: LHF
On Monday, the Latvian U18 men’s hockey team won the last test match before the upcoming world championship in the elite division over their peers from Germany. Latvia beat Germany away with a score of 5:4 (2:2, 1:1, 2:1).
The German hockey players were the first to take the lead, but Latvia answered with two accurate shots, with goals scored by Kārlis Česli and Dāvids Livšits. By the end of the period, the Germans were tied.
In the second period, the hosts were the first to score again, but Krists Retenais equalized the result in the second half of the third period. At the beginning of the final third, Pēteris Bulāns put Latvia in the lead, beating the opponent’s goalkeeper in the majority, however, a little more than five minutes before the end of the regular time, the result was tied again. Krister Anson scored the winning goal in the penultimate minute.
At the weekend, Latvian hockey players played against the Czech Republic, recognizing the superiority of their opponents with 2:4. In the elite division of the world championship, the Latvian youth team will start on April 20 against the USA. The next day, Latvia will meet with Finland, on April 23, they will play host to Switzerland, and on April 24, they will play against Norway. The quarter-finals of the World Championship will be held on April 27.
In his work with the Latvian U18 national team, Oļegs Sorokin is also assisted this year by Juris Ozols and Herberts Vasiļjevs, as well as goalkeeping coach Edgars Lūsiņš, video coach Artūrs Barovskis and physical training coach – Raivis Miezāns.
The composition of the Latvian U-18 hockey team:
goalkeepers: Aksels Ozols, Linards Feldberg (both – “Riga”), Nils Roberts Mauriņš (“Sodertalje, Sweden);
protectors: Viktors Kurbaka, Alex Leonovs, Krists Retenais (all – “Riga”), Pēteris Bulans (Šikutimi “Sagueneens”, QMJHL), Darel Uljanskis (Stockholm AIK, Sweden), Harijs Cjunskis (“Lugano”, Switzerland), Bruno Petrovičs ( Vaasa “Sport”, Finland);
attackers: Rodions Boltramovićs, Rauls Ozollapa, Raivis Strazdiņš, Tom Mots, Valters Niedrājs, Kārlis Nauris Česlis, Kristers Ansons (all – “Rīga”), Olivers Mežiņš (“Tukums”), Dāvids Livšić (“Kurbad”), Eriks Mateiko (St. John’s “Sea Dogs”, QMJHL, Canada), Kristofers Krūmiņš (Jersey “Hitmen”, USPHL, USA), Markus Streikiš (“IFK Taby”, Sweden), Valdis Dommers (“Schewenninger”, Germany), Gustavs Līcis-Līcītis (” KooVee”, Finland).
