• The last test match before the 2024 world championship will be played by the Latvian hockey team today. A home match against Norway is expected.
• Yesterday, in extra time, the opponent celebrated the victory (0:1). Jānis Jaks made a mistake in the pass in his attack zone, it was intercepted by Stīans Sulbergs, who made a pass against Elvi Merzlikina.
• The Latvian national team scored only one goal in the last three test matches – 1:5 and 0:4 against Switzerland and now 0:1 against Norway.
• ”We wanted too beautiful. In a few moments, the last pass was like that, and we missed good opportunities. You have to play more simply. We want to show how skillful we are, but sometimes simpler is better,” he said after yesterday’s game Harry Vitolinswho is concerned about the goalless streak in the last three games.
• Two victories have been celebrated in the seven test matches so far – in the first two matches, Austria was beaten 3:2. Later, five losses followed – against Finland, Switzerland and Norway.
• Elvis Merzlikins saved the goal of the Latvian national team yesterday, saving 22 of 23 shots. It is expected that Kristers Gudlevskis will be in goal today.
• Forward Mārtiņš Dzierkals, who just this week became the champion of the Swedish top league, is also expected to play. “He expressed his desire, said he was ready to play,” Vītoliņš commented on Dzierkala’s readiness.
• The composition of the Latvian national team for the 2024 World Championship will be named at a press conference organized on Monday, May 6.
• The Latvian national team will play group games in the 2024 World Championship in the Czech city of Ostrava. Poland, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, France, Germany, Sweden and the USA must compete in the group. The first game on May 11 against Poland.
Latvian national team test match calendar
| The date | The game | The result |
|---|---|---|
| April 4 | Latvia – Austria | 3:2 PM |
| April 5 | Latvia – Austria | 3:2 PM |
| April 10 | Latvia – Finland | 2:3 p.m |
| April 11 | Latvia – Finland | 2:3 |
| April 26 | Switzerland – Latvia | 5:1 |
| April 27 | Switzerland – Latvia | 4:0 |
| May 3 | Latvia – Norway | 0:1 p.m |
| May 4 | Latvia – Norway |
Latvian candidates
| Position | Player | Year | Club | Statistics | PS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Kristers Gudlevsky | 1992 | Bremerhaven (Germany) | 45; 91.4% | 5 |
| Elvis Merzlikin | 1994 | Blue Jackets (NHL) | 41; 89.7% | 5 | |
| Eric Vitols | 2001 | KeuPa (Finland-2) | 33; 90.4% | ||
| Defender | Oskars Cibulskis | 1988 | Blue Fox (Denmark) | 38; 2+11 | 9 |
| Ralf Freiberg | 1991 | Mountfield (Czech Republic) | 52; 1+8 | 7 | |
| Jānis Yaks | 1995 | Litvinov (Czech Republic) | 44; 4+25 | 6 | |
| Kristaps Zile | 1997 | Litvinov (Czech Republic) | 50; 4+7 | 5 | |
| Robert Mamcic | 1995 | Nove Zamky (Slovakia) | 45; 7+19 | 2 | |
| Karl Chukste | 1997 | Brynas (Sweden-2) | 49; 0+13 | 2 | |
| Arvil Bergmanis | 1999 | Alaska Fairbanks (NCAA) | 31; 2+17 | 2 | |
| Sandis Smons | 1999 | La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland-2) | 8; 1+0 | 1 | |
| Marcus Komulus | 1998 | Trois-Rivieres (ECHL) | 48; 2+5 | ||
| Robert Kalkis | 1998 | Marseille (France) | 43; 1+10 | ||
| Attacker | Andris Džeriņš | 1988 | Blue Fox (Denmark) | 31; 5+14 | 12 |
| Kaspars Daugavins | 1988 | Michalovce (Slovakia) | 47; 11+43 | 11 | |
| Robert Buckart | 1990 | Vitkovice (Czech Republic) | 51; 14+7 | 10 | |
| Mick Indrasis | 1990 | Brynas (Sweden-2) | 52; 26+32 | 10 | |
| Rodrigo Abol | 1996 | Rogle (Sweden) | 50; 14+12 | 7 | |
| Richard Buckart | 1995 | Vitkovice (Czech Republic) | 18; 7+4 | 6 | |
| Oskar Batnia | 1995 | Jukurit (Finland) | 59; 20+18 | 4 | |
| Mārtiņš Dzierkals | 1997 | Skelleftea (Sweden) | 45; 2+1 | 4 | |
| Rihards Marenis | 1993 | Nybro (Sweden-2) | 45; 13+20 | 3 | |
| Renard Krastenberg | 1998 | 99ers (Austria) | 30; 13+9 | 3 | |
| Dan Lochmelis | 2004 | UMass (NCAA) | 30; 7+7 | 1 | |
| Harald Egle | 1996 | Liptovsky Mikulas (Slovakia) | 49; 11+28 | ||
| Filip Buncis | 1997 | Vastervik (Sweden-2) | 52; 9+8 | ||
| Eduard Tralmak | 1997 | Rytiri Kladno (Czech Republic) | 52; 21+11 | ||
| Oskar Lapinski | 2002 | Tigers (Switzerland) | 52; 3+1 | ||
| Felix Gavar | 2002 | St. Lawrence (NCAA) | 39; 13+12 | ||
| Raivis Anson | 2002 | Penguins (AHL) | 34; 2+5 | ||
| Martins Lavins | 2003 | New Hampshire (NCAA) | 35; 5+9 |
Norwegian composition
| Position | Player | Year | Club | PS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Henrik Haukelann | 1994 | Dusseldorf (Germany) | 6 |
| Joonas Arncens | 1997 | Orebro (Sweden) | 4 | |
| Tubias Nurmann | 2001 | AIK (Sweden-2) | 1 | |
| Defender | Matias Neštebe | 1995 | Bjorkloven (Sweden-2) | 6 |
| Christian Kosastul | 1997 | Pustertal (Austria) | 4 | |
| Max Krogdal | 1998 | Ostersund (Sweden-2) | 3 | |
| Isak Hansen | 2003 | Sparta Sarpsborg | 1 | |
| Sanders Dilling | 2000 | Storhammer | ||
| Sverre Renningen | 2001 | Storhammer | ||
| Sanders Wall-Engebroten | 2002 | Jukurit (Finland) | ||
| Stian Solberg | 2005 | Valerenga | ||
| Attacker | Patrick Turesen | 1983 | Storhammer | 11 |
| Andreas Martinsen | 1990 | Storhammer | 11 | |
| Matias Tretenes | 1993 | Stavanger Oilers | 8 | |
| Eirik Salsten | 1994 | Storhammer | 4 | |
| Thomas Ulsen | 1995 | Valerenga | 1 | |
| Martin Rennild | 1996 | Storhammer | 1 | |
| Thomas Berg-Paulsen | 1999 | Malmo Redhawks (Sweden) | 1 | |
| Marcus Vikingsta | 1999 | Fischtown Pinguins (Germany) | 1 | |
| Howard Salsten | 2000 | Sparta Sarpsborg | 1 | |
| Noah Stein | 2004 | Mora (Sweden-2) | 1 | |
| Peter Westerheim | 2004 | Mora (Sweden-2) | 1 | |
| Annes Henriksen | 1995 | Stavanger Oilers | ||
| Eskil Ulsen | 2002 | Karlskog (Sweden-2) | ||
| Mikaels Brannseg-Nigor | 2005 | Mora (Sweden-2) |
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