The last week of January in the Latvian/Baltic hockey championship was very hot. Leaders “Mogo” lose both games! The fifth-placed “Prizma” wins all three, including “Zemgali” coached by Arta Ābolas. The Riga Hockey School makes the players of Jelgava worry and with a football score of 1:0 wins the Lithuanian hockey flagship Elektrēni “Energija”. Are such developments only because the head coach of the Latvian national team, Harijs Vītoliņš, can watch all of us in Riga? Who named all the candidates for the Olympic team very prematurely. Re, Roberts Yekimov from “Prism” earns ten (3+7) performance points in three games…
And now he has already made a big break in the list of the most productive pitchers – 53 (24+29). David Sarkani (“Mogo”) is already eight points ahead – 45 (21+24), two points less than the two players from Liepāja – Kārlis Ozoliņš – 44 (23+21) and Kevin Strādnieks – 44 (13+31). In the Volvo Hall, where “Prizma” plays its home matches, they want to start a campaign – Robčik to the national team! If in the 4:2 victory against “Zemgali” Yekimov participated in all four winning goals.
Otherwise, I’d say this was the most engaging, intriguing game of the week. However, only a hockey ignoramus can attribute this 4:2 to sensations. Because “Prizma” already beat “Zemgali” 3:2 (in the bullpen) in the fall. Losses – 3:11 and 3:8 may seem to show that Jelgavniks are sharper, but a victory is a victory. Especially if we think about the playoffs, which are not far away either – from seven (“Prism”) to ten games.
“Mogo” went to Liepāja as the leader of the championship. In addition, the two attack leaders Ozoliņš and Strādnieks did not play for the Liepāja team. It seemed that two points were guaranteed for “Mogo”, but at the beginning of the third quarter – 3:0! When at the end of the regular time, Nik Fenenko earned extra time (3:3), it seemed that the game was 3:3, but the blitz of Đirtas Ankipānas has advantages. On paper, maybe, but on the pitch the Liepāja trio managed, team captain Paulas Svaras finding a gap in the goal guarded by Kārlis Mežsargas – 4:3. And the statistics: shots – 13:31… Liepājnieki scored four goals with 13 shots! After the game, the coach of the winners, Edgars Brancis, invited Alexander Cicurski, the father of Liepāja hockey, to greet the team and congratulate Cicurski on his 80th anniversary. A well-deserved honor. As well as the opportunity for Cicurski to watch the game with his friends from the VIP box.
“Capitals” 3:2 against “Mogo” was also sweet food, and the previous matches between these teams – 3:2 in favor of Kyiv and 1:3 loss show that the play offs will hardly be one-goal games. And isn’t it nice if the “Panther” of Tallinn “bites” the “Capitals” in Pinkis – 6:5?
But maybe last week’s heroes are the guys from the Riga Hockey School? 1:2 with “Zemgali” and when Markus Saviel threw the only puck against “Energija”, the youngsters led by Jura Ozola are no longer the last… 1. “Capitals” – 51 points (31 games), 2. “Mogo” – 50 (31), 3. “Zemgale” – 49 (31), 4. Liepāja – 48 (31), 5. “Prizma” – 34 (33), 6. “Panter” – 26 (31), 7. “Energija” – 19 (32), 8. Riga HS – 16 (30), 9. “Punk” – 14 (32).
Only one game this week – “Panter” against “Zemgali” on Wednesday in Tallinn. But on Friday, we all follow the appearance of Kaspars Daugavins at the Olympic Stadium in Milan.
Jānis MATULIS
