2024-04-11 03:49:28
Tickets for Wednesday’s game in “Arena Riga” are almost sold out, and the teams will meet again on Thursday.
The Latvian national team can be supplemented by about 20 more hockey players, including those playing in the National Hockey League (NHL).
“In the test games, we will be able to see how many problems there will be in our game, whether we will need to bring one of the hockey players, or we can wait for our top players,” says Vītoliņš about the possible additions to the team. He confirmed that there are quite a few players who are still waiting.
The team includes several young hockey players from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship, and they positively impressed in the games with Austria.
Commenting on the performance of the young guys, Vītoliņš agreed that “all the young guys are trying and surprised”. He emphasized that most of them had not yet been seen in adult hockey, but they are focused, full of energy and quickly understand what is wanted from them.
“Everyone showed themselves well, and everyone is still in the team,” says the coach, arguing that the transoceanic environment, where there is a queue for every hockey player’s place, forces you to play both training and games at full capacity, otherwise someone else will take your place.
Commenting on the possible joining of Columbus “Blue Jackets” goalkeeper and Buffalo “Sabres” striker Zemgus Girgensons, Vītoliņš confirmed that “we want to see Zemgus and Elvi” in the national team.
“Zemgum does not have a contract for the next season. We will see if he wants to go. After the main tournament, we will call about his further vision. We are ready to buy tickets when he confirms that he will go to the national team,” commented Vītoliņš.
“Merzlikin already has a contract. We just have to wait for the final negotiations, which take place in American clubs after the season. There are no obstacles,” says the coach.
Vītoliņš is happy that Wednesday’s game is expected in front of full stands and that the mood is good, because full stands mean an evaluation of the work done previously.
“Arena Riga” had bright lighting on Wednesday, which is brighter than before in the Daugava Ice Hall.
“I think that training in a new environment will be more chaotic,” Vītoliņš shared his thoughts on the first training session in Arena Riga. “However, the morning training was of high quality, the guys were focused, the shots were good.”
“At the beginning of the first game with Austria, we were insecure in the first third. In the second, when we got used to it, we started making gross mistakes in passes. Today, the training was again like a debut in a different place, but in the evening it will be the debut of this spring in front of the audience,” on conditions that, especially for young hockey players , can affect the performance in the game with Finns, states Vītoliņš.
He confirmed that his Finnish assistant Wille Peltonen, who has asked for one week to finish the season at the Finnish club he coached, Helsinki HIFK, plans to arrive on Saturday.
Vītoliņš emphasized that the Finnish national team, which plans to attract only a few players from the NHL this year and rely on those playing in Europe, has come to Riga with a good squad, which does not include the finalists of the Finnish championship.
He praised the opposition’s passing culture after Finland’s morning training, stressing that it was a “quick and quality opponent”.
“You always want to win. You have to play selflessly, tactically correctly and you have to score goals. If it’s on the level, victory is not far away either,” says the coach.
Commenting on the possible playing of the 18-year-old goalkeeper Linards Feldbergs, recognized as the most valuable player of the final series of the Latvian championship, Vītoliņš says that perhaps Feldbergs will be registered for the game on Thursday, but his playing on the field will depend on the course of the game.
“He deserves to be in the national team and he enjoys this hockey,” says the coach about the goalkeeper.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the matches in “Arena Riga” will start at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on TV6.
Last week, the Latvian ice hockey players played two test matches with Austria, celebrating a 3-2 victory in the post-game shootout in both. For Finland, it will be the first test match this spring.
The Latvian national team is scheduled to play six test matches at home and two away this spring. After the matches with Finland, the Latvians will meet Norway at home on May 3 and 4. On the other hand, away games with Switzerland will be held on April 26 and 27.
In the Latvian national team, the head coach Harijs Vītoliņš is assisted by coaches Lauris Dārziņš, Artūrs Irbe, Petri Nummelins, Ville Peltonens, Raimonds Vilkoits, video coach Pēteris Groms and physical training specialist Āriks Visockis.
The Latvian national team will go to the world championship in the Czech Republic on May 9.
The 2024 championship will take place in Prague and Ostrava from May 10 to 26.
List of candidates for the Latvian national team:
goalkeepers – Ivars Punnenov (Lakers of Rappersvile-Jonas, Switzerland), Eriks Vitols (Keuruu “KeuPa”, Finland), Lindards Feldberg (“Mogo”/LSPA);
defenders – Roberts Mamcic (“Nove Zamky”, Slovakia), Arvil Bergmanis (University of Alaska Fairbanks, NCAA), Arturs Andjan (Hemenlinn HPK, Finland), Markus Komuls (Trois-Rivières “Lions”, Canada), Ralph Daniel Bergmanis (Vermont University, NCAA), Robert Kalkis (“Marseille”, France), Patrik Ozols (“Dukla” of Jihlava, Czech Republic), Sandis Smons (“La Chaux-de-Fonds”, Switzerland), Ralf Freiberg (“Mountfield” of Hradec Kralove);
forwards – Oskars Batnia (Mikeli “Jukurit”, Finland), Roberts Bukarts (Vítkovice “Ridera”, Czech Republic), Filips Buncis (Vestervíkas IK, Sweden), Renars Krastenberg (Graz “99ers”, Austria), Haralds Egle (Liptovski Mikuláš ” MHK 32″, Slovakia), Rihards Marenis (Níbro “Vikings”, Sweden), Oskars Lapinskis (Langnavas “Tigers”, Switzerland), Rihards Melnalksnis (“Olten”, Switzerland), Jānis Vizbelis (Elmair College, NCAA), Kristaps Skrastiņš , Martins Laviņš (both – University of New Hampshire, NCAA), Felix Gavar (St. Lawrence University, NCAA), Dans Lochmelis (University of Massachusetts at Emerst, NCAA).
2024-04-11 03:49:28