2024-04-13 17:35:56
Haralds Egle scored two goals for the Latvian national team, while Olivers Kaski scored three goals for the Finnish national team – and all in the third period in a little more than four minutes.
Latvia took the lead in the majority. One minute and 27 seconds before the end of the first period, Haralds Egle corrected the flight of the puck in front of the goal after Robert Bukart’s pass and Ralf Freiberg’s shot at the goal. Oskars Batnia worked excellently in front of the goal, blocking the visibility of the visiting goalkeeper Markus Ruus,
In the goal of the Latvian national team, Ārik Vītola had much more work than the Finnish goalkeeper.
In the 33rd minute, Jona Luoto earned four penalty minutes for hitting Kristaps Skrastiņš on the lip with a stick, who was able to continue the game.
18 seconds before the end of the first two minutes, Latvia made it 2:0. Ralf Freiberg passed to the right from the left back position to Bukart, who showed with his body that he would shoot at the goal, but passed to the front of the goal to Egle, who only had to use his stick to send the puck into the goal.
In the middle of the third period, the Finns tied the score with two goals scored by Kaski within a minute and a half. In the 52nd minute, after Konstas Helenius won the puck in the left circle of the Latvian zone, Rasmus Risanen passed from the center along the blue line to the left, and Kaski sent the puck into the goal – 2:1 for Latvia.
Kaski achieved 2:2 by approaching the goal guarded by Vitols from the blue line on the right side of the field and sending the puck into the upper left corner of the goal.
In the 56th minute, Kaski made it 3:2 for Finland. He hit the puck again into the top left corner of the net.
Kaski collected the hat-trick in four minutes and 24 seconds.
Helenius and Risanen collected two assists each.
In the last minute, Latvia replaced Vītola with the sixth field player, but failed to score a goal.
Vitols saved 30 of 33 shots, but Finnish goalkeeper Rūsu managed 16 of 18 shots.
Bukarts was recognized as the best player for the home team, and Kaski for the Finnish national team.
In the first test game on Wednesday, Latvian hockey players recognized Finland’s superiority in extra time (2:3). Oskars Lapinskis and Roberts Kaļķis scored goals for the Latvian national team, for whom it was the first goal in the ranks of the national team.
Last week, the Latvian hockey players played two test matches with Austria, celebrating the victory in both of them with 3:2 in the shootouts. For Finland, these are the first test matches before the World Championship.
The Latvian national team is scheduled to play six test matches at home and two away this spring. On April 26 and 27, the guests will play against Switzerland, and on May 3 and 4, the Latvians will meet Norway at home.
All test matches of the Latvian national team can be watched live on the TV6 channel.
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-Rivière “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).
2024-04-13 17:35:56