Striker Balcers will not play in the Latvian hockey team this spring due to an injury / Article

Zurich “Lions” represented by Balcer defeated “Lausanne” represented by Ronald Kēnins in the final game of the Swiss Hockey League (NL) on Tuesday and won the final series with 4-3. “Lions” hockey players were superior with 2:0.

Kēniņš scored twice in eight minutes and ten seconds on the ice and was on the court in a one-goal loss. Balcers did not play in the fifth final game due to an injury.

It has already been reported that Balcers was injured on Thursday in the fifth game of the finals of the Swiss Hockey League (NL), in which his Zurich Lions defeated Ronald Kēnins’ Lausanne 3-0 at home and reached 3-2 in the series up to four wins.

It was also reported that he could return to the field in the next final game.

“Due to an injury, Balcers will not be able to help the Latvian national hockey team at this year’s world championship,” LHF reports.

This season, Balcers collected 38 (20+18) points in 50 games of the main tournament of the Swiss Championship, while in eight “play-off” games he has six (3+3) points on his account.

A year ago, the 27-year-old striker helped the Latvian national team win the first bronze medals in the history of the national team with nine (2+7) points.

The Latvian national team, preparing for the world championships, defeated Austria twice in penalty kicks with 3:2, lost to Finland twice with 2:3, and lost to the home team in Switzerland with 0:4 and 1:5.

On May 3 and 4, the Latvians will meet Norway at home.

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.

Candidates of the Latvian national team

goalkeepers – Elvis Merzlikin (Columbus “Blue Jackets”, NHL), Ivars Punnenov (Rappersvile-Jonas “Lakers”, Switzerland), Erik Vitols (Keuru “KeuPa”, Finland);

defenders – Jānis Jaks, Kristaps Zīle (Litvīnovas “Verva”, Czech Republic), Roberts Mamčić (“Nove Zamky”, Slovakia), Arvils Bergmanis (University of Alaska Fairbanks, NCAA), Markus Komuls (Trois-Riviera “Lions”, Canada), Roberts Kalkis (“Marseille”, France), Sandis Smons (“La Chaux-de-Fonds”, Switzerland), Ralfs Freiberg (“Mountfield” of Hradec Kralove), Oskars Cibulskis (“Blue Fox of Herning”, Denmark), Christopher Bindulis (Mihalovces “Dukla”, Slovakia);

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 (Nibro Vikings, Sweden), Oskars Lapinskis (Langnavs Tigers, Switzerland), Martins Lavins (University of New Hampshire, NCAA), Felix Gavar (University of St. Lawrence, NCAA), Dan Lochmelis (University of Massachusetts Emerst, NCAA), Andris Džeriņš (Herning Blue Fox, Denmark), Kaspars Daugavins (Mihalovce Dukla, Slovakia), Eduards Tralmaks (Kladno Rytīrži, Czech Republic), Raivis Ansons (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins”, AHL), Miks Indrašis (Jävles “Brynas”, Sweden).