Latvian ice hockey players also train intensively on the day before the game, preparing for the match against Poland / Article

Also on Friday, the coaches maintained a high training intensity and did not allow the players to get carried away by discussing the situation. National defender Ralfs Freiberg was satisfied with the team’s performance and in an interview with Latvijas Televīzisia, he said that the national team looks good and powerful, similar to last year.

“The main thing is that we are positive,” said Freiberg.

On the other hand, the goalkeeper Kristers Gudlevskis admitted that nothing new can be learned at the venue of the championship, so the main thing will be physical and mental readiness for the games. Goalkeeper coach Artūrs Irbe refrained from telling who will be in goal against Poland after training, however, it can be predicted quite reliably that it will be Elvis Merzlikin.

Meanwhile, Eduards Tralmaks, the debutant attacker of the championship, tried to find the right stick for a long time in training on Friday. If it doesn’t work with one stick, then you have to try with another one, if it doesn’t work with the second one, then with the third one.

“Both during training and warm-up, the sticks change all the time, but I look and think that I have found my favorite for tomorrow,” said Tralmak. “Hopefully it will be as sweet.”

The game schedule for the Latvian national team in the tournament is such that they cannot afford to stumble in the beginning, and at least in the first three games in a row.

The national team coach Lauris Dārziņš sees that the younger players feel the pressure more, but he is sure that no one has reason to be afraid.

“I wish everyone not to be afraid, because the homework is well done. Therefore, there is nothing to be afraid of,” said Dārziņš. “You have to understand that the opponent comes to the championship with the same feelings. Therefore, you just have to work hard – work hard on your game.”

The Polish national team will return to the top division on Saturday after a 22-year break. Both the coaches of the opponents and the journalists drew attention to the fact that Latvia had officially registered only 18 players for the tournament on Friday. However, the situation will be different on Saturday, and Latvia will start the tournament with full strength.

The match between Latvia and Poland will start at 17.20, but already at At 16.30 LTV7 and LSM.lv will be able to watch the pre-match studio.

In the continuation of the group stage, Latvian hockey players will have to play against France (May 12), Kazakhstan (May 14), Germany (May 15), Sweden (May 18), Slovakia (May 19) and the USA national team (May 21). . The four strongest teams in the group will advance to the quarterfinals.

All world championship matches can be seen live on LSM.lv.