The head coach of the Latvian national ice hockey team, Harijs Vītoliņš, has named a squad of 27 ice hockey players who will go away for two test matches against the Swiss national team.
The coaching staff of the Latvian national team includes 3 goalkeepers, 9 defenders and 15 forwards.
Defenders Artūrs Andžans and Sandis Smons, as well as forward Kristaps Skrastiņš, will not go to Switzerland.
The first match between Latvia and Switzerland will take place on Friday, April 26, in Lausanne, at 20:45 (Latvian time).
On the other hand, the second match between the two national teams will take place on Saturday, April 27, in Klotene, at 18:30 (Latvian time).
Both games can be watched live on TV6 channel!
The team led by Vītoliņš will conclude the preparation phase with matches on May 3 and 4 at “Arena Rīga” against the Norwegian team. All tickets for the Latvia – Norway test matches are already sold out.
In the first two test matches (April 4 and 5) in the Daugava Ice Hall, Latvia defeated the Austrian team by 3:2 and 3:2, but then the team led by Vītoliņš lost to the strong Finnish team with a score of 2:3 and 2:3 in Arena Riga. for selection.
The composition of the Latvian national team for the test matches in Switzerland
| Position | Player | Year | Club | PS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Ivars Punnenov | 1994 | Lakers (Switzerland) | 4 |
| Elvis Merzilkin | 1994 | Blue Jackets (NHL) | 5 | |
| Eric Vitols | 2001 | KeuPa (Finland-2) | ||
| Defender | Oskars Cibulskis | 1988 | Blue Fox (Denmark) | 9 |
| Ralf Freiberg | 1991 | Mountfield (Czech Republic) | 7 | |
| Jānis Yaks | 1995 | Litvinov (Czech Republic) | 6 | |
| Kristaps Zile | 1997 | Litvinov (Czech Republic) | 5 | |
| Robert Mamcic | 1995 | Nove Zamky (Slovakia) | 2 | |
| Arvil Bergmanis | 1999 | Alaska Fairbanks (NCAA) | 2 | |
| Christopher Bindulis | 1995 | Michalovce (Slovakia) | 1 | |
| Marcus Komulus | 1998 | Trois-Rivieres (ECHL) | ||
| Robert Kalkis | 1998 | Marseille (France) | ||
| Attacker | Andris Džeriņš | 1988 | Blue Fox (Denmark) | 12 |
| Kaspars Daugavins | 1988 | Michalovce (Slovakia) | 11 | |
| Robert Buckart | 1990 | Vitkovice (Czech Republic) | 10 | |
| Richard Buckart | 1995 | Vitkovice (Czech Republic) | 6 | |
| Oskar Batnia | 1995 | Jukurit (Finland) | 4 | |
| Rihards Marenis | 1993 | Nybro (Sweden-2) | 3 | |
| Renard Krastenberg | 1998 | 99ers (Austria) | 3 | |
| Tom Anderson | 1993 | La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland-2) | 1 | |
| Dan Lochmelis | 2004 | UMass (NCAA) | 1 | |
| Eduard Tralmak | 1997 | Kladno (Czech Republic) | ||
| Harald Egle | 1996 | Liptovsky Mikulas (Slovakia) | ||
| Filip Buncis | 1997 | Vastervik (Sweden-2) | ||
| Oskar Lapinski | 2002 | Tigers (Switzerland) | ||
| Felix Gavar | 2002 | St. Lawrence (NCAA) | ||
| Martins Lavins | 2003 | New Hampshire (NCAA) |
Staff of the Latvian national team for away games to Switzerland
| 1. | Harry Vitolins | Head coach |
| 2. | Rudolph Kalvītis | General Manager |
| 3. | Ville Peltonen | Assistant |
| 4. | Lauris Dārziņš | Assistant |
| 5. | Peteri Nummelins | Assistant |
| 6. | Artur Irbe | Goalkeeper coach |
| 7. | Peter Grom | Video trainer |
| 8. | Eric Wysockis | Physical fitness trainer |
| 9. | Kaspars Yakuš | Physiotherapist |
| 10. | Kristaps Zelčs | Physiotherapist |
| 11. | Early Bricis | Equipment manager |
| 12. | Agnis Otvars | Doctor |
| 13. | Edgar Garross | Press secretary |
Test matches of the Latvian national team in the spring of 2024
| The game | Place | The date | Time | The result |
| Latvia – Austria | Daugava ice hall | April 4 | 19:30 | 3:2 par. |
| Latvia – Austria | Daugava ice hall | April 5 | 19:30 | 3:2 par. |
| Latvia – Finland | Arena Riga | April 10 | 19:30 | 2:3 par. |
| Latvia – Finland | Arena Riga | April 11 | 19:30 | 2:3 |
| Switzerland – Latvia | Switzerland, Lausanne | April 26 | 20:45 | |
| Switzerland – Latvia | Switzerland, Kloten | April 27 | 18:30 | |
| Latvia – Norway | Arena Riga | May 3 | 19:30 | |
| Latvia – Norway | Arena Riga | May 4 | 16:00 |
Tags: composition Latvian national team matches Switzerland named
