Injuries prevent striker Georgs Golovkovs, as well as defenders Mikas Tumanovs and Nauris Sējejs, from participating in the fight for a place in the Latvian national team coached by Harijs Vītoliņš.
Golovkov participated in two world championship matches last spring. In the final game of the group tournament against Switzerland, the striker played almost six minutes on the field, but in the historic quarter-final victory over Sweden, Golovkov played two and a half minutes. The 28-year-old forward spent the third season in a row in Sweden’s second strongest league Allsvenskan. Representing the colors of the Esteshund team, the forward scored 15 points with three goals and 12 assists in 32 games of the season.
The 22-year-old defender Tumanov spent his debut season in the top league of the Finnish championship. The Latvian hockey player had one assist in 48 games for JYP. On the other hand, the 23-year-old Sėjės scored three goals and made two assists in 28 games as part of Kisnachte “Lions” in Switzerland’s second strongest league. Neither Tumanov nor Šejės have a record of world championships yet, but the latter has participated in one match at the Olympic Games.
Consenting players announced by the LHF
Goalkeeper (1): Elvis Merzlikin.
Defenders (6): Ralfs Freiberg, Oskars Cibulskis, Jānis Jaks, Kārlis Čukste, Kristaps Zīle, Roberts Mamčić.
Attackers (13): Kaspars Daugavins, Oskars Batņa, Mārtiņš Dzierkals, Miks Indrašis, Renārs Krastenbergs, Eduards Tralmaks, Andris Džeriņš, Rodrigo Ābols, Rudolf Balcers, Tom Anderson, Rihards Marenis, Rihards Bukarts, Roberts Bukarts.
Will not be (5): Deniss Smirnovs, Kristians Rubins, Miks Tumanovs, Nauris Šejės, Georgs Golovkovs.
Tags: Latvian national team spring participant Golovkova Hockey Sportacentrs .com
