Kristers Gudlevsky | Photo: Eddy Palen/LETA
The goalkeeper of the Latvian hockey team, Kristers Gudļevskis, commented on his inclusion in the Olympic team in a conversation with “Delfi.lv” in the “D sector” program.
Gudlevsky suffered a serious injury at the end of October, which forced him to miss several months. Gudlevsky, who is included in the national team for the Olympic Games, returned to the ice during the training of the German club only the previous week. Therefore, Ivars Punnenov has not entered the team, although he played quite successful test matches.
“I think that all hockey players understand the feeling of disappointment and it is very understandable that you are disappointed,” said Gudlevsky. “If I wasn’t chosen and he [Ivars Punnenovs] was chosen, I would feel exactly the same way. Maybe I’m too proud to admit it publicly, but it’s very understandable. This event [olimpiskās spēles] is very rare and we have yet to get there, it is the biggest event you can achieve in your career. The coaches made a decision that I will play the role of the third goalkeeper, but of course someone else is hurting.”
“Ivar is having a good season and I watched the test tournaments. I think the big reason is that he did almost everything he could to prove himself,” the goalkeeper said. “If the coaching staff could, they would take everyone with them. Often the formation of the squad is that they don’t take all the most skillful players, because the team is being built and everyone has to play their role. As the saying goes, someone has to carry the piano. I think it’s a personal pain and others have the opinion that Ivars is a worse goalkeeper than me, even when he plays and I don’t, but the squad is formed a little differently.”
