Exactly one month later, the Winter Olympic Games will kick off with an opening ceremony, hosted this time by two Italian cities – Milan and Cortina. One of the most anticipated events is the hockey tournament, in which Latvia will also be represented. On Tuesday, 6th January, the Latvian Hockey Federation (LHF) announced the composition of our national team.

Back in the summer, the LHF announced the first six hockey players who will represent the national team in the most important tournament of the last year – Teodors Bļugers (Vancouver Canucks), Rodrigo Ābols (Philadelphia Flyers), Elvis Merzļikins (Columbus Blue Jackets), Artūrs Šilovs (Pittsburgh Penguins), Zemgus Girgensons (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Uvis Balinskis (Florida Panthers).

Among the 25 players, national team head coach Harijs Vītoliņš has also included long-time Latvian national team captain Kaspars Daugaviņš, who currently plays in Germany’s second division.

This will be his fourth Olympic Games.

Latvian national team roster:

Goaltenders – Elvis Merzļikins (Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL), Artūrs Šilovs (Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL), Kristers Gudļevskis (Fischtown Pinguins, NHL);

Defense – Oskars Cibuļskis (Herning Blue Fox, Denmark), Alberts Šmits (Jukurit, Finland), Uvis Balinskis (Florida Panthers, NHL), Ralfs Freibergs (Vitkovice, Czech Republic), Roberts Mamčičs, Jānis Jaks (both Energie, Czech Republic), Kristaps Zīle (Liberec, Czech Republic), Kristiāns Rubīns (Plezn, Czech Republic);

Forwards – Renārs Krastenbergs (Olomouc, Czech Republic), Dans Ločmelis (Providence Bruins, AHL), Kaspars Daugaviņš (Huskies, Germany), Mārtiņš Dzierkals (Sparta, Czech Republic), Rodrigo Ābols (Philadelphia Flyers, NHL), Rūdolfs Balcers (Zürich Lions, Switzerland), Zemgus Girgensons (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL), Eduards Tralmaks (Griffins, AHL), Teodors Bļugers (Vancouver Canucks, NHL), Roberts Bukarts (Pioneers, Austria), Oskars Batņa (Pelicans, Finland), Haralds Egle (Energie, Czech Republic), Sandis Vilmanis (Charlotte Checkers, AHL), Ēriks Mateiko (Hershey Bears, AHL).

In preparation for the tournament, the Latvian national team will play one practice game in Milan against Germany.

 

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