Battle for bronze: Latvia vs. USA. The first third is passing; result – 1:1

In the middle of the first third, USA equalizes the result – 1:1.

The bronze match at Nokia Arena has started at 15.20, and the final between Canada and Germany will start at 20.20. Matches can be watched live on LTV7.

In the semi-finals on Saturday, Latvia lost to Canada with a score of 2:4, but the USA lost to Germany with a score of 3:4 in extra time.

Latvia’s ice hockey players qualified for the semi-finals for the first time in their history after beating Sweden 3:1 in the quarter-finals at “Arena Rīga” on Thursday. Already on Friday morning, the Latvian national team arrived in Tampere, where several thousand fans supported it in person on Saturday.

The Latvian national team started the championship with two losses, losing 0:6 to Canada and 1:2 to Slovakia. Then followed the first ever victory over the Czechs (4:3 in extra time) and four more victories were won – 2:1 over Norway, 3:2 over Slovenia, 7:0 over Kazakhstan and 4:3 in extra time over Switzerland. The points obtained in the last match allowed not only to enter the quarter-finals, but also to win the third place in subgroup B.

USA hockey players won all games in the subgroup, only losing points in the last one, as the match was concluded in extra time. The Americans defeated Finland (4-1), Hungary (7-1), Germany (3-2), Austria (4-1), Denmark (3-0), France (9-0) and Sweden (4-3). . The Czechs were beaten 3-0 in the quarter-finals.

The Latvian and US national teams have met 15 times in the world championships, with the Latvians winning three. The last of them was nine years ago, but the next four games between them were won by USA hockey players, including last year’s championship (4:1).

With seven accurate shots, the best goal scorer of the USA national team in this championship is last year’s fifth pick of the NHL draft, Cutter Gauthier, who spent this season in the National Collegiate Association (NCAA). Rocco Grimaldi, who played in the AHL this season, scored the most points (5+7).

The captain of the Latvian national team in the championship is Kaspars Daugavins, while his assistants are played by Rodrigo Ābols and Roberts Bukarts. In this tournament, Dans Ločmelis and Tom Anderson made their debut in the Latvian national team.

There will be 22 hockey players in the application for each game, but if one of the hockey players gets injured during the championship, changes can be made in the tournament application. In this way, striker Andri Džeriņa was replaced by Georg Golovkov. Also, on Tuesday, defenseman Kristiāns Rubīns, who finished the season in the American Hockey League (AHL) over the weekend, joined the national team.

Lauris Dārziņš, Artūrs Irbe, Artis Ābols, Peteri Nummelins and Raimonds Vilkoits assist the head coach Harry Vītoliņš in his work with the national team.

The Latvian national team, preparing for the world championship, won and lost to Polish, Great Britain and Swiss hockey players in test matches, as well as beat Denmark away from home.

The 16 teams participating in the tournament are divided into two groups, with eight teams each, which guarantees seven games for each team. The top four teams in each sub-group will continue the fight for medals in the quarter-finals, but the weakest teams in both groups – Slovenia and Hungary – will leave the strongest division, and next year Poland and Great Britain will be among the top 16 in their place.

Last year, the Finns won the world championships, beating Canada in the decisive match.

The World Championship, which is jointly hosted by the Finnish city of Tampere and Riga, takes place from May 12 to 28.

Latvian men’s hockey national team in the world championship:

goalkeepers – Ivars Punnenov (“Lausanne”, Switzerland), Kristers Gudlevskis (“MoDo”, Sweden), Arturs Shilov (“Canucks”, AHL);

defenders – Uvis Jānis Balinskis (“Bīlī Tygrži” from Liberec, Czech Republic), Kristaps Zīle, Ralf Freiberg, Jānis Jaks (all from “Verva” from Litvinova, Czech Republic), Kārlis Čukste (“Ocelarži” from Tršinec, Czech Republic), Arvil Bergmanis (Alaska Fairbanks University, NCAA), Roberts Mamcic (“Nove Zamky”, Slovakia), Oskars Cibulskis (Kladno “Rytīrži”, Czech Republic), Kristians Rubins (Calgary “Wranglers”, AHL);

forwards – Kaspars Daugaviņš (Iserlon “Roosters”, Germany), Oskars Batņa (Mikeli “Jukurit”, Finland), Dan Ločmelis (“Lulea”, Sweden), Miks Indrašis (Schwenningen “Wild Wings”, Germany), Renārs Krastenberg (Stockholm AIK, Sweden), Mārtiņš Dzierkals (Česke Budejovice “Motor”, Czech Republic), Rihards Bukarts (Klagenfurt “EC-KAC”, Austria), Ronalds Kēniņš (“Lausanne, Switzerland), Tom Anderson (“La Chaux-de-Fonds “, Switzerland”), Rodrigo Ābols (“Orebro”, Sweden), Roberts Bukarts (“Ridera” of Vítkovice, Czech Republic), Andris Džeriņš (“Blue Fox” of Herning, Denmark), Denis Smirnovs (“Servette” of Geneva, Switzerland), Rudolf Balzer (Syracuse Crunch, AHL), Georg Golovkov (Sodertalje, Sweden).

USA men’s ice hockey team for the world championship:

goalkeepers: Drew Comeso (Chicago “Blackhawks”, NHL), Casey DeSmith (Pittsburgh “Penguins”, NHL), Kel Peterson (Los Angeles “Kings”, NHL);

defensemen: Ronnie Attard (Leville Phantoms, AHL), Lane Hutson (Boston University, NCAA), Connor McKee (Arizona Coyotes, NHL), Nick Purbix (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL), Scott Perunovich (Springfield Thunderbirds “, AHL), Dylan Samberg (Winnipeg “Jets”, NHL), Henry Tran (San Jose “Sharks”, NHL), Tyler Kleven (Ottawa “Senators”, NHL);

forwards: Anders Bjork (Chicago Blackhawks, NHL), Nick Bonino (Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL), Matt Coronato (Calgary Flames, NHL), Sean Ferrell (Montreal Canadiens, NHL), Connor Garland (Vancouver Canucks, NHL), Carter Gauthier (Boston College, NCAA), Carter Mazur (Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL), Drew O’Connor (Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL), Luke Tuck (Boston University, NCAA), Alex Tuck (Buffalo Sabres, NHL), Thomas Joseph Tynen (Ontario Reign, AHL), Sammy Walker (Iowa Wild, AHL), Patrick Brown (Ottawa Senators, NHL), Michael Eisimon (Tampa Bay Lightning “, NHL).