Exactly one month later, the opening ceremony will mark the start of the Winter Olympic Games, which this time will be hosted by two Italian cities – Milan and Cortina. One of the most anticipated events is the hockey tournament, where Latvia will also be represented. The composition of our national team became known on Tuesday, the Latvian Hockey Federation (LHF) reports.
(Added with the time and place of the test match of the Latvian national team.)
Already in the summer, the LHF announced the first six hockey players who will represent the national team in the most important tournament of recent years – Teodors Blūgers (Vancouver “Canucks”), Rodrigo Ābols (Philadelphia “Flyers”), Elvis Merzlikin (Columbus “Blue Jackets”), Artūrs Shilovs (Pittsburgh “Penguins”), Zemgus Girgensons (Tampa Bay “Lightning”) and Uvis Balinskis (Florida “Panthers”).
Among the 25 hockey players, the head coach of the national team, Harijs Vītoliņš, has also included the long-time captain of the Latvian national team, Kaspars Daugavinas, who is currently playing in Germany’s second strongest league.
This will be his fourth Olympic Games.
The team also includes three debutants – defender Alberts Šmits and forwards Sandis Vilmanis and Eriks Mateiko.
The composition of the Latvian national team:
Goalkeepers – Elvis Merzlikin (Columbus “Blue Jackets”, NHL), Arturs Shilovs (Pittsburgh “Penguins”, NHL), Kristers Gudlevsky (“Fischtown Penguins”, Germany);
Defenders – Oskars Cibulskis (Herning Blue Fox, Denmark), Albert Schmidt (Jukurit, Finland), Uvis Balinskis (Florida Panthers, NHL), Ralfs Freiberg (Vitkovice, Czech Republic), Roberts Mamcic, Jānis Jaks (both Energie, Czech Republic), Kristaps Zīle (Liberec, Czech Republic), Kristians Rubīns (Plezn, Czech Republic);
Forwards – Renārs Krastenbergs (“Olomuc”, Czech Republic), Dan Lochmelis (Providence “Bruins”, AHL), Kaspars Daugavins (“Huskies”, Germany), Mārtiņš Dzierkals (“Sparta”, Czech Republic), Rodrigo Ābols (Philadelphia “Flyers”, NHL), Rudolfs Balcers (Zurich “Lions”, Switzerland), Zemgus Girgensons (Tampa Bay “Lightning”, NHL), Eduards Tralmaks (“Griffins”, AHL), Teodor Blüger (“Vancouver “Canucks”, NHL), Roberts Bukart (“Pioneers”, Austria), Oskars Batnia (“Pelicans”, Finland), Haralds Egle (“Energie”, Czech Republic), Sandis Vilmanis (Charlotte “Checkers”, AHL), Eric Mateiko (Hershey “Bears”, AHL).
In preparation for the tournament, the Latvian national team will play one practice match in Milan, meeting with Switzerland, scheduled for February 9 at 17.15 Latvian time.
CONTEXT
The Olympic hockey tournament for Latvia will start on February 12, when they will have to compete with the USA team in subgroup C, on February 14 they will play against Germany, and a day later – against Denmark. In total, 12 national teams are divided into three groups – Canada, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and France will play in Group A, while Finland, Sweden, Slovakia and host Italy will compete in Group B.
The winner of each group and one best runner-up among all subgroups will immediately enter the quarter-finals, while the other teams will play the round of 16.
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