news-item-description">Latvia shall be Slovakia’s sixth opponent on the 2024 World Hockey Championship within the Czech Republic. The nice shock of final 12 months’s match went by way of the semi-home match in a fairytale approach to the bronze medals. Seems similar to this 12 months’s squad, there are as much as 18 monuments in it.
Up to now the profession of Elvis Merzlikins has two utterly totally different faces. In 2014, he grew to become the best drafted Latvian goaltender in historical past when he was chosen by the Columbus Blue Jackets within the third spherical out of the 76th general decide. The robust 191 cm tall goalkeeper determined to proceed his growth in Europe, the place he carried out very properly within the Swiss Lugano jersey.
From the 2019/20 season, he joined the most effective hockey league on this planet, which he has been a relentless a part of for five years. He shined in his rookie season. In 33 duels, he maintained a wonderful success fee of 92.3%, acquired 4 votes within the nomination for the Vezina Trophy for the most effective goaltender of the season, due to which he acquired the fifth place, and likewise positioned fifth place within the voting for the Calder. Cup. Cale Makar received the award for the most effective newcomer.
After a profitable rookie season, he added a robust sophomore 12 months. A complete of 28 video games and a 91.6% save success fee are actually numbers any goaltender within the NHL might be pleased with, particularly within the second 12 months of his profession. Nevertheless, from this second on, the efficiency of the Latvian goalkeeper went downhill.
Illustration doesn’t apply, Columbus does
Twice in a row, he couldn’t overcome the 90% success fee, and particularly final season it was an actual disgrace. In 30 video games, he conceded a mean of over 4 objectives per sport and gave himself a beneath common success fee of 87.6%. Additionally because of this, he determined to give attention to the summer season preparation for the brand new season and refused an invite to the 2023 residence hockey World Cup.
He triggered controversy primarily resulting from his assertion at a press convention in Columbus. “I wish to take part in the bathroom and be with the workforce, however this time it won’t be potential. The nationwide workforce does not pay me to dwell, Columbus pays me quite a bit for that.” the Riga native mentioned truthfully. As soon as his assertion reached Latvian followers, Latvia’s greatest hockey star grew to become his arch enemy.
Latvia, with out Elvis Merzlikins, received the ultimate bronze medals after soundly knocking out Sweden within the quarter-finals and defeating the USA 4-3 in further time within the bronze medal match. Arturs Silovs, who’s at the moment shining within the sequence of the 2nd spherical of the NHL playoffs within the jersey of the Vancouver Canucks in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers, was answerable for the function of the goalkeeper.
He doesn’t undergo from sad followers
Though Elvis Merzlikins made no secret that he would do the whole lot in the summertime to come back again stronger within the jersey of the “bluecoats”, the season didn’t go in keeping with his expectations. This time, nevertheless, he didn’t refuse an invite from the nationwide workforce, and after shedding the 2023 championship, he’s sporting probably the most worthwhile jersey once more in Ostrava. Nevertheless, even his return was not with out controversy.
“I spoke to the coaches and administration and defined to them that I did not come right here to trigger bother. It’s a nice pleasure for me to play for the nationwide workforce and I’ll give my greatest. Effectively, to be trustworthy, I’ve no want to return residence. I do not really feel right here (in Latvia, editor’s observe) Welcome,” the skilled 30-year-old goalkeeper shocked him together with his assertion in an interview with Latvian media.
Latvian followers cheer laborious for his or her workforce on the 2024 World Cup in Ostrava in opposition to Sweden at 1:8:
As well as, their performances on the ice nonetheless don’t settle for the opinions of dissatisfied followers, who can not determine with the impersonal strategy to their nation and the nationwide workforce. Elvis Merzlikins began in 4 conferences by which he confronted 92 photographs on objective. He invested in 16 of them. With 82.61% (or) profitable saves, he’s among the many worst goaltenders on this 12 months’s World Hockey Championship.
If the teaching employees present confidence within the skilled goalkeeper even in Sunday’s sport in opposition to Slovakia, the strain shall be on his shoulders to enhance his performances considerably and gas Latvia’s possibilities of advancing to the finals. big semi-finals.
Extra concerning the 2024 World Cup of Hockey:
2024-05-19 15:25:00
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