2024-04-23 04:36:12
Merzlikin finished his season in the National Hockey League (NHL) last week, where he won 13 games, averaged 3.45 innings and shot 89.7% in 41 games as part of the Columbus Blue Jackets. On Sunday, he arrived in Latvia and already on Monday morning he joined the training of the national team, preparing for the world championship.
“I am very happy to be here and today with the team, to meet the guys, hug, talk and joke,” said the goalkeeper.
Merzlikins has stated in the talks with the coaches and the Latvian Hockey Federation (LHF) that he will not talk to the media any more this term. It is understandable that the hockey player is not satisfied with the reactions of some of the public to his statements last year about the fact that his salary is paid by the club and not the national team.
“I’m not saying that Latvian fans are exaggerating, because they are also good fans. I’m sorry if I offended someone in one of the interviews last year. I’m going to the Latvian national team with the greatest joy and love, but I don’t want to come home because I don’t feel welcome here,” said Merzlikin.
“You can criticize me, I like it. You know me from youth national teams, everyone knows my character and how I speak. Sometimes I say too much. This has crossed the line,” continued Merzlikin.
He was also angered by the statements of the goalkeeper and coach Rihards Zimmermanis in the broadcast “Nine” about the fact that Merzlikin is not a team player.
“The last time I saw him was when I was about 13-14 years old. Who is he to say what kind of team player I am? Ask my teammates. I am ready to give everything to them, I will give them my best. I have not quarreled with anyone in the team neither in the national team, nor in “Lugano”, I lost during training in Lugano, but afterwards we were together in a bar. You have made an Elvi that does not exist, and I missed it until now,” said Merzlikin.
The Latvian goalkeeper emphasized that he does not deserve the kind of treatment he feels. “Yes, the last two years have not been the best for me. There have been games in which I have scored five or six pucks. You have seen hockey. Were there any chances at all?” emphasized Merzlikin.
The hockey player once again repeated that he came to the national team to be with his teammates, not for the media.
“In this war between us and you, the media, you are the winners. This time I give up. Take what you want, but you will be the winners anyway. This one has crossed the line – I come home, but I don’t feel welcome here. I walked through the airport with a bent head, so people don’t know me,” Merzlikin concluded the conversation.
In the beginning of the training camp, the Latvian hockey players played two test matches with Austria, celebrating the victory in both with 3:2 in the shootouts, but last week the Latvians lost to the Finns twice with 2:3.
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.
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.
2024-04-23 04:36:12