Forward Ronalds Ķeniņš will not join the Latvian men’s hockey team this spring due to an injury, reports the Latvian Hockey Federation (LHF).
On Tuesday, “Lausanne” represented by Kēnins lost 0:2 to Zurich “Lions” in the decisive match of the final series of the Swiss championship, which played without the injured Rudolph Balzer, and lost 3-4 in the series up to four victories.
In the seventh game of the final series, Kēniņš was on the ice for eight minutes and ten seconds, during which he scored twice and was on the court in a one-goal loss. This season, he scored four (1+3) points in 36 games of the main tournament, but remained scoreless in eight “paly-off” games.
The LHF also informs that defender Kārlis Čukste has joined the training of the Latvian national team, who helped Jēvle’s “Brynas” team triumph in Sweden’s second strongest league last week with Mika Indraši.
In the main tournament, Chukste collected 13 assists and a positive efficiency ratio of +18 in 49 matches, but in the playoffs he had one goal and two assists in 13 matches.
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.
List of candidates for 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), Kārlis Čukste (Jevles “Brynas”, Sweden);
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).
