The IIHF reviewer evaluates the chances of Latvian hockey players in the upcoming world championship

Next, on May 12, Latvia will play against the French, on May 14 – against Kazakhstan, on May 15 – against Germany, on May 18 – against Sweden, on May 19 – against Slovakia. On the other hand, in the final match of the subgroups on May 21, Latvia will clash with USA hockey players. All matches of the Latvian national team can be followed live on “tv3.lv”.

“Latvia won bronze last year for the first time in the history of the world championship, and since then has been happy about the podium. Now they have to get down to business and see if they can do it again. The Latvian national team will not have the most valuable goalkeeper Artūrs Šilovs, but Elvis Merzlikins will.

And they will have captain Kaspars Daugavins, who will participate in the 12th world championship, and Rihards Bukarts, who was the team’s top scorer with eleven points in the last tournament.

Bronze is a difficult task, but reaching the quarter-finals is very possible, and besides, they are well aware that anything can happen,” says the IIHF observer.

In the Latvian national team, the head coach Harijs Vītoliņš is assisted this year by coaches Lauris Dārziņš, Artūrs Irbe, Petri Nummelins, Ville Peltonens, Raimonds Vilkoits, video coach Pēteris Groms and physical training specialist Āriks Visockis.

This year’s world hockey championship will take place in the Czech cities of Prague and Ostrava from May 10 to 26. Latvian hockey players will play in one group against the national teams of France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and the USA.

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