The Latvian national team beat France 2: 1 (1: 0, 0: 0, 1: 1) in front of the full “Arena Riga” stands. Rihards Bukarts and Miks Indrašis scored for Latvia and Stefans da Costa for France.
In the first period of the match, there were more dangerous moments at the French goal, especially in the majority after Tom Terrier’s rejection in his zone, when the puck was already in the middle of the field. Laura Dārziņa’s throw-in in the upper corner was blocked by guest goalkeeper Henri Korentēns Baiss.
The puck reached the goal after ten minutes and 56 seconds, when Andris Džeriņš intervened as the French defenders played behind his goal, the puck jumped in front of the goal, making it easier for Richard Bucharest to throw it in the upper corner of the goal – 1: 0.
The second period with many goal scoring opportunities for both sides passed like waves. Latvia, after passing the rejection of Kristaps Sotnieks, which was received at the end of the first third, gained the upper hand, gained the majority, but did not realize it, although there were opportunities.
After that, in the second half of the period, Kristiāns Rubīns and Kārlis Čukste twice violated the rules of Latvia, forcing the home team to play in the minority against the great French majority in the first two games for four minutes and 20 seconds almost all the time. The joint forces managed to protect the goal.
2: 0 after playing five minutes and 50 seconds in the last period, Indrašis reached, who broke into the goal by a throw-in in the majority of three players. The puck hit the defender Igo Galē’s stick after a not too strong throw and, hitting the goalkeeper’s foot guard, re-selected over it in the right corner of the goal.
One goal was scored in the counterattack in the 52nd minute by da Costa, who caught Punnenov in the counterattack with a shot from the middle of the zone, sending the puck over the keeper in the right corner of the goal, disappointing for the first time in the tournament in Riga and reaching 1: 2.
There were several more dangerous moments at Punnenov’s goal, but the best chance to score for the French came after the rejection of Theodore Bluger two minutes and four seconds before the end of regular time. Franči replaced the goalkeeper with the sixth player, but the Latvian goal was not taken.
On the first day of the competition, Latvia defeated Italy with 6: 0, but on Friday it defeated Hungary with 9: 0, scoring eight goals in the third period. France defeated Hungary 5: 3 in a fierce battle at the start of the tournament, while Italy beat 2: 0.
This is the first tournament for the Latvian hockey team led by the new coach Harijs Vītoliņš. The team of coaches also includes Viktors Ignatjevs, Artis Ābols, Raimonds Vilkoits, goalkeeper coach Juris Klodāns and Kārlis Zirnis.
In parallel with the Olympic qualifying tournament in Riga, eight more national teams are distributing two tickets to the Beijing Olympics.
The Latvian national team has participated in four consecutive Winter Olympics – in 2002 in Salt Lake City, in 2006 in Turin, in 2010 in Vancouver and in 2014 in Sochi – but no ticket to the 2018 Pyongyang Olympics was won.
Participation in the tournament in Beijing is already provided for Canada, Russia, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, the USA, Germany, Switzerland and hostess China.
Composition of the Latvian men’s hockey team in the qualifying tournament of the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games:
Goalkeepers: Ivars Punnenovs (Langnavas “Tigers”, Switzerland), Artūrs Šilovs (Manitoba “Moose”, AHL), Mareks Mitens (Utica “Comets”, AHL);
Defenders: Ralfs Freibergs, Oskars Cibuļskis, Kristaps Sotnieks, Kārlis Čukste (all – Riga “Dinamo”, KHL), Kristiāns Rubīns (Toronto “Marlies”, AHL), Sandis Smons (Geneva “Servette”, Switzerland), Uvis Balinskis (Litvin Verva, Czech Republic), Jānis Jaks (Sochi, KHL);
Forwarders: Theodore Blugers (Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL), Zemgus Girgenson (Buffalo Sabers, NHL), Rudolf Balcers (San Jose Sharks, NHL), Lauris Dārziņš (Riga Dinamo, KHL), Miks Indrašis (Podolsk) Vitjaz, KHL), Andris Jerins (Black Wings of Linz, Austria), Rodrigo Apple (Orebro, Sweden), Dennis Smirnov (Servette, Geneva, Switzerland), Renar Krastenberg (Villacher SV, Austria) , Mārtiņš Dzierkals (without club), Kaspars Daugaviņš (“Bern”, Switzerland), Rihards Bukarts (Vladivostok “Admiral”, KHL), Roberts Bukarts (Vītkovice “Ridera”, Czech Republic), Ronalds Ķēniņš (“Lausanne”, Switzerland).
