Latvia’s IIHF World Championship Match Against Austria to Proceed Without NHL Players

Latvia’s national ice hockey team will face Austria in the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship without the availability of two NHL players, as confirmed by multiple Latvian sports outlets. The absence of these players comes as Latvia prepares for its preliminary round matchup against Austria in the ongoing tournament.

According to reports from TVNET Sports, Sportacentrs.com, Delfi, and Sportazinas.com, Latvia will not have the services of two NHL players for its game against Austria in the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. The reports specifically identify these players as Krisjanis Caune and Edgars Svencis, who are currently engaged in other international competitions.

Caune and Svencis are instead participating in the FIA ECO RALLY 2025 world cup series, representing Latvia in the X3000 Skandi Motors Racing team. The duo began their rally season on April 10 in Slovenia with the opening round of the 14-event calendar, which includes competitions in Spain, Czech Republic, Portugal, Scotland, China, Iceland, Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco, and Italy.

The Latvian rally team competes in a Hyundai Ioniq 6 vehicle in Category 1, the highest division which allows them to compete for overall championship points. Their participation in the Eco Rally Scotland event on July 26-27 marked their second start of the 2025 season following their debut in Slovenia in April.

While the hockey reports confirm the absence of Caune and Svencis from Latvia’s national team for the Austria matchup, they do not specify whether these players are regular members of Latvia’s IIHF World Championship roster or if they were merely being considered for potential selection. The reports also do not detail the specific roles or positions these athletes would fill on the hockey team.

The IIHF Men’s World Championship 2025 is currently underway, with Latvia placed in a preliminary group that includes Austria. The tournament follows the standard IIHF format with preliminary round games determining advancement to the quarterfinals.

For Latvia’s hockey program, the absence of NHL-affiliated players represents a challenge in competing against nations with deeper NHL representation. Austria, like Latvia, typically relies on a mix of European league players and any available NHL talent for its World Championship entries.

As of the latest verified information, Latvia’s national ice hockey team continues its participation in the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship with its available roster. The team’s next scheduled action would be determined by the tournament progression and results from preliminary round games.

Readers interested in following Latvia’s performance in the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship can consult the official IIHF website for updated schedules, results, and standings. Similarly, updates on Krisjanis Caune and Edgars Svencis’ participation in the FIA ECO RALLY 2025 can be found through official rally racing channels.

What are your thoughts on Latvia’s chances in the World Championship without NHL players? Share your predictions in the comments below.