“Mogo”/LSPA hockey players became the “Optibet” Hockey League (OHL) champions on Thursday in Jelgava.
“Mogo”/LSPA beat “Zemgali”/LBTU 4:0 (1:0, 1:0, 2:0) on the road, celebrating the success with 4-1 in the series up to four victories.
In the tenth minute, Kristers Ansons put the guests in the lead after Kaspars Ziemiņš and Renarts Bērziņš passes, but Kārlis Ozoliņš made it 2-0 in the 24th minute after David Sarkanis’ pass.
In the 49th minute, Elviss Želubovskis scored a goal after a pass from Laura Bajarun in a two-on-one matchup with the home defender. Renars Kamergrauz also had a productive pass.
In the 58th minute, David Sarkanis sent the puck into an empty net after a pass by Gint Meijas, because the goalkeeper of the home team, Rihards Zimmermanis, had given space to the field player.
In the ranks of the winners, Linards Feldbergs saved all 34 shots, but for the hosts, Zimmermanis managed 18 of 21 shots.
The 18-year-old champion goalkeeper Feldberg was recognized as the most valuable player of the final series.
In the first final game, Riga won 3:2 away, in the second Jelgava won at home with 1:0. In the third match, “Mogo”/LSPA won at home with 3:1, and in the fourth – in the shootout with 4:3.
The remaining matches, if necessary, will be held on April 6 in Riga and April 8 in Jelgava.
Current champion “Zemgale”/LBTU defeated Riga “Prizma” 4-0 in the semi-final series, while “Mogo”/LSPA beat “Kurbads” hockey players 4-0 in the series.
This season, in the mutual games between the two finalists, Jelgavniki won the first two matches of the main tournament with 2:1 and 5:1, but in the last two games, the Riga hockey players were superior with 3:1 and 2:1.
In the quarterfinals, “Prizma” beat Tallinn’s “Panter” with 3-1 and “Kurbads” with 3-0 – Hockey school “Riga”.
Six teams made it to the OHL playoffs. The quarter-finals took place up to three victories, while the semi-finals and the battle for the OHL Cup and the Baltic Championship title took place up to four successes.
In the 2023/2024 season, Riga’s “Prizma”, Hockey School “Rīga”, Jelgava “Zemgale”/LBTU, “Mogo”/LSPA and “Kurbads” from Latvia, “Kaunas City”, Elektrēnu “Airwell-Energija” will participate in the Baltic Championship “, Vilnius “7BET-Hockey Punks” from Lithuania and Estonian club Tallinn “Panter”.
Last year, “Zemgale”/LBTU became the champion, which defeated “Mogo”/LSPA 4-1 in the final to reach four victories.
Celebration of champions. Photo: Eddy Palen/LETA
