Five goalkeepers, 11 defenders and 18 forwards are included in the training camp list of the Latvian national team for the Olympic qualification tournament. Harijs Vītoliņš will name the team for the qualification tournament after two test matches “Arena Rīga”.
The list of 34 candidates also includes four representatives of National Hockey League (NHL) teams – Artūrs Shilovs (Vancouver “Canucks”), Uvis Balinskis (Florida “Panthers”), Zemgus Girgensons (Tampa Bay “Lightning”) and Rodrigo Ābols (Philadelphia “Flyers”). .
Due to personal reasons, NHL players Teodors Bļugers and Elvis Merzlikins, as well as defender Kārlis Čukste, will not be able to help the Latvian national team in this tournament.
In addition to Latvia, France, Slovenia and Ukraine will fight for a ticket to the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The road sign to the 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be won by the strongest team in the final round of this qualification.
The qualification tournament in Riga will take place from August 29 to September 1.
List of candidates for the Latvian men’s hockey team:
Eriks Vitols (Jyveskiles JYP, Finland), Kristers Gudlevskis (Bremerhafen “Fischtown Penguins”, Germany), Arturs Shilovs (Vancouver “Canucks”, NHL), Gustavs Grigal (Milwaukee “Admirals”, AHL), Linard Feldberg (Sherbrooke “Phoenix” , QMJHL);
defensemen – Uvis Balinskis (Florida “Panthers”, NHL), Jānis Jaks, Roberts Mamčić (both – Karlovy Vary “Energia”, Czech Republic), Kristians Rubīns (Plzen “Škoda”, Czech Republic), Kristaps Zīle (Litvīnova “Verva”, Czech Republic) ), Ralf Freiberg (“Mountfield” of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic), Arvil Bergmanis (University of Alaska Fairbanks, NCAA), Markus Komul (“Nove Zamky”, Slovakia), Oskars Cibulskis (“Blue Fox of Herning”, Denmark), Bogdan Hodas (” Hertlander”, ECHL), Ralf Bergmanis (University of Minnesota, NCAA);
forwards – Zemgus Girgensons (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL), Rodrigo Abols (Philadelphia Flyers, NHL), Oskars Batnia (Hradeckrálovas Mountfield, Czech Republic), Haralds Egle (Bratislava Slovan, Slovakia), Dan Lochmelis, Đirts Silkalns (both – University of Massachusetts Emerst, NCAA), Raivis Ansons (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton “Penguins”, AHL), Martins Lavins (University of New Hampshire, NCAA), Rudolfs Balcers (Zurich “Lions”, Switzerland), Kaspars Daugavins, Renars Krastenbergs ( both – Mihalovces “Dukla”, Slovakia), Miks Indrašis (Jēvles “Brynas”, Sweden), Mārtiņš Dzierkals (Šlelefteo AIK, Sweden), Eduards Tralmaks (Kladno “Rytīrži”, Czech Republic), Roberts Bukarts, Rihards Bukarts (both – Vītkovice “Rider”, Czech Republic), Sandis Vilmanis (Charlotte “Checkers”, AHL), Felix Gavar (St. Lorenz University, NCAA).
2024-08-17 08:20:59