“There will hardly be four games in the final. I think that both teams are quite good at playing defense and without the puck. I don’t think you will see many goals. Yes, maybe anything can happen in one particular game, but in the series as a whole. The teams are equal, so the more important there are good decisions, details. A successful ricochet can help just as well,” said “Zemgales” head coach Artis Ābols, noting the similar results of the mutual matches.
The Jelgavniks finished the regular season in first place, thus earning home field advantage. However, after playing 32 games, the two finalists had the same number of points, and the victories in the mutual duels were also split in half. “Zemgale” won the opening game of the season in September, as well as in mid-October (2:1 and 5:1), but in two duels at the end of January, “Mogo” hockey players were superior (3:1 and 2:1).
“There will be similar games. It might as well be four overtimes in the series – who knows. The series will be decided by nuances and details,” said Đirts Ankipāns, who joined Abol in praising the rivals’ defensive skills. “They are well trained. Most likely, this will not be a productive series.”
“Zemgale” won 4-1 in last year’s final. Jelgavniki had gained considerable experience on the Finnish courts and used it to their advantage. Ankipans estimated that this time the difference in the team’s preparedness indicators is much smaller. “Yes, they train in a slightly more professional mode, and that still gives an advantage. But we have improved our positions. Logically, I can’t forbid going to school or work during the final, but this year there is a feeling that the team is ready to sacrifice to achieve the goal, ” said Ankipans.
Both teams had additions at the end of January. Returning from Poland, striker Richards Bernahrds joined “Zemgale” and Edgars Dīkis came from “Kurbada”. On the other hand, goalkeeper Linards Feldbergs (HS “Riga”) and forwards Kristers Ansons (QMJHL) and Rolan Vasiļjevs (Sweden-5) came to “Mogo”.
“It’s nice for any coach if you can strengthen the squad. Previously, we weren’t looking for additions right at the end of the season. I’m satisfied with the hockey players who joined the team. I’ll spare the main speeches – let’s see how they will show themselves in the finals. It will be important for the young ones. For Anson and Feldberg, this is an important stage in one’s career,” said Ankipāns.
In the semi-final series against “Kurbad” (4-0), 18-year-old Feldberg and 33-year-old Henry Anch shared the place in the goal of “Mogo”. “Zemgale” also used two goalkeepers in the semi-final against “Prizma” (4-0) – Marius Bajaruna-Galey and Rihardas Zimmermans, who ended his career before the season and became a goalkeeper coach, but returned to the goal in the most important moments of the season. Abols revealed that Cimmermanis both guards the goal in training and works with the other goalkeepers available to the team.
“Rejection should not be given for every little thing, because it is the final. The most important thing is that decisions are made consistently over the course of 60 minutes and on both sides. Not – in one period there is one measure, in the next another,” said Abols about the refereeing preferences. Ankipāns was guided by a similar clue: “It is most convenient for teams and coaches when you understand what will happen. Yes, refereeing can be more convenient or inconvenient for one team, but at least it is understandable what is being rejected. Clearly, referees make mistakes and all kinds of things happen. It won’t be easy for them, nor for us.”
The coaches of the two teams that reached the finals expressed their belief that the OHL level has taken a step forward this season. Both Ābols and Ankipāns noted the joining and struggle of Tallinn “Panther”, half of the season “Kaunas City” was also able to show its teeth, while experts were more critical of the contributions of “Energijas” Elektrēni and Vilnius “Hockey Punks”.
“The season was incomparably more powerful than the previous one. Kaunas gave us hope that there would be competitors, that we could make the playoffs. I guess the bench was too short for them – the team died. Estonians looked respectable. There were good and bright games. We relaxed and lost, also “Zemgale” lost to them. A year ago we could win even games in which we relaxed, this year it cost us points,” Ankipāns assessed.
“Our games have been attracting attention for several years, because there are strong enough and similar teams in the Latvian championship,” said Ābols on the eve of the final. “If there were five teams of our level in the championship, it would be very ok.”
“Jelgava won the French champions in the Continental Cup, and this is already a good European level. Of course, we would like to have other finances at our disposal – then we could raise the level much higher,” thought Ankipāns.
The final series will start on Wednesday evening at 19:00, live on TV6.
2024-03-26 12:26:53
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