the national team picks up pace in anticipation of the World Championship / Article

Three goalkeepers, seven defenders and 10 forwards sweated on the ice during training. Most of the current candidates have almost no experience in the national team, but there were also experienced Roberts Bukarts, Renars Krastenbergs, Roberts Mamcic, Arvils Bergmanis and Ivars Punnenovs. Forward Roberts Bukarts is already preparing for his 11th World Championship. Rihards Bukarts is not training yet, because he underwent appendicitis surgery on March 9.

Several students from US colleges are also fighting for a place in the team, for whom the spring is the only time when the coaches are in person. One of the last to leave the ice was Martins, the son of Rodrigo Laviņš, the most played hockey player in the Latvian national team. His first season with the University of New Hampshire team is behind him, but he had to take an exam remotely a few hours after training. Martin praised the level of skill and speed in the national team’s training, which requires a lot of footwork on the ice.

Striker Kristaps Skrastiņš is also ready to study online and at the same time apply for a place in the national team at the world championship. Last year, striker Dans Lochmelis was successfully included in the national team, and his example for the national team in the brilliant world championship inspired others as well.

The head coach of the national team, Harijs Vītoliņš, was happy about the excitement of the players in training.

He said that a few more players will join before the first test matches, but there will be no major changes in the squad. Although there are many new candidates in the national team, Vītoliņš did not recognize only a few by their faces during the first training session.

“It can be seen that the guys are mobilized and a bit hungry after all this. The speeds were good, the quality needs to be improved a bit, but the attitude today was very positive and very good,” said Vītoliņš about his impressions during the training session. “It will still be good for us if 2-3 players are present before the matches with Austria, so practically this squad will be the one playing. Tomorrow will be [pievienojušies uzbrucēji] Rihards Marenis, Oskars Batnia, Dans Lochmelis and Sandis Smons in defense. We’re just getting started.”

Along with the adult team, the U-18 boys team also started preparing for their world championship in the elite division. The management of the Latvian Hockey Federation (LHF) would like to see someone from the youth team also play in the adult national team, but LHF sports director Edgars Buncis emphasized that there are no mandatory requirements in this matter.

During the preparation phase, the Latvian national hockey team has six test matches at home and two away. The first test matches will be on April 4 and 5 in “Daugavas” hall in Riga against Austria.

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