The Latvia men's national ice hockey team will face the tournament hosts — the Germany national team — today in Landshut in the first match of the "Cup of Germany," reports LETA.
The match will start at 20:45 Latvian time and will be broadcast live on TV6.
On Saturday at 12:00, the team led by Harijs Vitoliņš will play against the Slovakia national team, and a day later, also at 12:00, will conclude the tournament with a match against the Austria national team.
Vitoliņš is assisted at the tournament by coaches Lauris Dārziņš, Sandis Ozoliņš, Raimonds Vilkoits, and Petteri Nummelin, goaltending coach Artūrs Irbe, and fitness coach Eriks Visockis.
The Latvia national team participated in this tournament only once — in 2020, when they achieved victory. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only three teams participated in the tournament at that time: the Latvia national team, the Germany national team, and the Germany U23 team.
Latvia National Team Roster:
Goalkeepers – Ivars Punnenovs ("Lakers", Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland), Gustavs Davis Grigals ("SaiPa", Lappeenranta, Finland), Eriks Vitols ("Banska Bystrica", Slovakia);
Defenders – Jānis Jaks ("Energie", Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic), Ralfs Freibergs ("Ridera", Vitkovice, Czech Republic), Kristaps Zile ("Bili Tygři", Liberec, Czech Republic), Oskars Cibulskis ("Blue Fox", Herning, Denmark), Alberts Šmits ("Jukurit", Mikkeli, Finland), Miks Tumānovs ("Jokerit", Helsinki, Finland), Artūrs Ančāns (HPK, Hämeenlinna, Finland), Nauris Sējējs ("Lions", Küsnacht, Switzerland);
Forwards – Kaspars Daugaviņš ("Mogo"/RSU), Emīls Veckaktiņš ("Ažua", Switzerland), Renārs Krastenbergs ("Olomouc", Czech Republic), Mārtiņš Džerkals ("Sparta", Prague, Czech Republic), Miks Indrašis ("Mladá Boleslav", Czech Republic), Oskars Batņa ("Mountfield", Hradec Králové, Czech Republic), Tom Andersons ("La Chaux-de-Fonds", Switzerland), Denis Smirnov ("Kloten", Switzerland), Oskars Lapinskis ("Tigers", Langnau, Switzerland), Raimonds Vitoliņš ("Dukla", Trenčín, Slovakia), Kārlis Ozoliņš ("Liepāja Hockey Team"), Robert and Rihards Bukarts, Filips Buncis (all without a club).
