2024-05-14 00:49:47
Subgroup B match in Ostrava will start at 17:20 Latvian time, broadcast live on LTV7 channel.
On Saturday, in the first match of the tournament, Latvia defeated Poland 5:4 in overtime, while France lost 1:3 to Kazakhstan.
Still today, Slovakia and Kazakhstan will fight in Ostrava at 1:20 p.m. and Sweden and Poland at 9:20 p.m., also broadcast on LTV7. There will be matches between Finland and Great Britain, Denmark and Canada, Austria and Switzerland in Prague – these matches can be watched on the website “lsm.lv/hokejs”.
After that, on May 14 Latvia will meet with Kazakhstan, on May 15 – with Germany, on May 18 – with Sweden, on May 19 – with Slovakia, and in the final group game on May 21, the Latvians will play against the USA hockey players, whom they beat last year in the battle for the bronze medal. for awards.
On the other hand, the home team Czechs, last year’s champions Canada, Finland, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Austria and Great Britain will play in subgroup A in Prague.
Only one player from the National Hockey League (NHL), Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, has been included in the French national team, who has seven points (4+3) and a positive efficiency coefficient of +4 in 40 matches this season for the Seattle “Kraken”. Problems with the player’s insurance prevented the team from joining Columbus Blue Jackets forward Alexander Texier.
The French national team also includes hockey players from the American Hockey League (AHL), as well as national championships in France, the Czech Republic, Finland, Switzerland, Germany and Russia.
Goalkeeper Elvis Merzlikins returned to the Latvian national team after missing the previous championship. Of the players who won bronze medals last year, 17 remain in the lineup, but seven of this year’s additions could have their debut championship – goalkeeper Eriks Vitols, defender Markus Komulas, as well as forwards Harald Egle, Raivi Anson and Eduard Tralmak, Martin Lavin and Félix Gavar. . Vītolas, Lavinas and bronze medal winner Arvila Bergmaņas will not be included in the initial application, but striker Danas Ločmelis will have to miss the first two games due to the disqualification earned at the World Junior Championship.
The best goalkeeper of the last world championship and the most valuable player of the tournament, Arturs Shilov, together with the winner of the last season’s Stanley Cup, Theodore Blüger, continues to fight in the playoffs of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the ranks of the Vancouver “Canucks”. Uvja Jānis Balinskas, the defenseman of the NHL club Florida “Panthers”, whose represented team is also still fighting in the Stanley Cup, is also not in the lineup.
Due to injuries, this year’s national team will not include forwards Rudolph Balcers, Ronald Kēnins, Denis Smirnov, Andras Džeriņas, who played in last year’s championship, as well as Christian Rubin, the author of the winning goal of the bronze game.
The 16 teams participating in the tournament are divided into two groups, with eight teams each, which guarantees seven games for each team. The top four teams in each group will continue the medal fight in the quarter-finals, while the weaker teams in both groups will leave the stronger division, and next year will be replaced by Hungary and Slovenia in the top 16.
Last year, the Canadians triumphed in the world championships, beating Germany in the decisive match, while Latvia won the bronze medals, defeating the USA national team in overtime.
This year, the world championship will take place in the Czech cities of Prague and Ostrava from May 10 to 26.
The composition of the Latvian hockey team for participation in the 2024 world championship:
goalkeepers – Elvis Merzlikin (Columbus “Blue Jackets”, NHL), Erik Vitols (Keuru “KeuPa”, Finland), Kristers Gudlevsky (Bremerhafen “Fischtown Pinguins”, Germany);
defenders – Jānis Jaks, Kristaps Zīle (Litvīnovas “Verva”, Czech Republic), Roberts Mamčić (“Nove Zamky”, Slovakia), Arvils Bergmanis (University of Alaska Fairbanks, NCAA), Markus Komuls (Trois-Riviera “Lions”, Canada), Ralfs Freiberg (“Mountfield” of Hradec Králova), Oskars Cibulskis (“Blue Fox” of Herning, Denmark), Kārlis Čukste (“Brynas” of Jävle, Sweden);
forwards – Oskars Batnia (Mikeli “Jukurit”, Finland), Roberts Bukart, Rihards Bukart (both – Vítkovice “Ridera”, Czech Republic), Renars Krastenbergs (Graz “99ers”, Austria), Haralds Egle (Liptovski Mikuláš “MHK 32”, Slovakia), Martins Laviņš (University of New Hampshire, NCAA), Felix Gavar (University of St. Lawrence, NCAA), Dan Lochmelis (University of Massachusetts Emerst, NCAA), Kaspars Daugaviņš (Mihalovce “Dukla”, Slovakia), Eduards Tralmaks (Kladno “Rytīrži “, Czech Republic), Raivis Ansons (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton “Penguins”, AHL), Miks Indrašis (Jēvles “Brynas”, Sweden), Mārtiņš Dzierkals (Šlelefteo AIK, Sweden), Rodrigo Ābols (Engelholms “Rogle”, Sweden).
The composition of the French men’s hockey team for the 2024 world championship:
Goalkeepers: Julien Junka (Chicago “Wolves”, AHL), Canten Papillon (Bordeaux “Boxers”, France), Sebastien Ilonen (Sergi “Joker”, France);
Defenders: Ioan Ovitou (Rider of Vítkovice, Czech Republic), Enzo Cantagallo, Florians Shakiashvilli (both – Dragons of Rouen, France), Pierre Crinon (Bruleurs de Loups of Grenoble, France), Hugo Gallet (Kuopio “Kalpa”, Finland), Enzo Guebbi (“Davos”, Switzerland), Vincent Lorca (Angers “Duc”, France), Thomas Thierry (“Ajoie”, Switzerland);
Forwards: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (Seattle Kraken, NHL), Charles Bertrand (Ingolstadt ERC, Germany), Louis Boudon (Iowa Wild, AHL), Kevin Bozon (Ajoie, Switzerland), Tim Bozon (Lausanne , Switzerland), Batist Bruchet (Bordeaux “Boxers”, France), Valentén Clairo (Vítkovice “Ridera”, Czech Republic), Stefan da Costa (Ekaterinburg “Avtomobilist”, Russia), Aurelien Dair, Sasha Trey (both – Grenoble “Bruleurs de loups”, France), Jordan Perret (Mountfield Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic), Antoni Resch (Dragons of Rouen, France), Nicolas Ritz (Angers “Duc”, France), Thomas Simonsen (Gothiques of Amiens, France).
2024-05-14 00:49:47