“Organizer of Riga World Hockey Championship sheds light on Belarus, Russia’s absence, Latvian hockey struggles, and exodus to Czech extra league”

Riga (from our correspondent) – The year before, Riga hosted the “covid” world hockey championship with empty stands and this year – this time as a co-organizer with Finland – it is facing non-standard circumstances.

Due to the war in Ukraine, which was started by Russian President Vladimir Putin more than a year ago, the IIHF ice hockey federation is missing Russia and Belarus from the tournament.

Just before the championship, a minor affair arose from it. That’s when Buncis informed that the fans can bring the Ukrainian flag to the stand, but not the Russian and Belarusian flag.

At the last World Cup in Tampere and Helsinki, the Ukrainian flag irritated the organizers, which Czech fans recognized as well.

Was it difficult for you to give a clear opinion?

Not at all. First of all, I would like to remind you that Russian and Belarusian flags are prohibited here in Latvia. This happened following the beginning of the war. And when it comes to Ukrainian flags, let’s just say that our joint task is to help this country as much as we can. This is the least we can do.

What is your opinion about the non-participation of Russia and Belarus in the ongoing championship?

I wouldn’t say that it would be more interesting with them, but they are simply big hockey countries, so they would be an asset from a sporting point of view. We should admit it and I think everyone understands that. But hockey is not the most important thing in life. As humans, we have certain values ​​that are more important than sports or specifically the World Cup. So there is nothing to talk about.

Opinions differ on how Russia and Belarus should return to the international scene. They are currently receiving points for their current position in the IIHF rankings, so they are not relegated. Is that right? Or do they not deserve the points and should start from the bottom when they return, like Slovakia after the division of Czechoslovakia?

It was the same with Latvia, it also started from the bottom. It’s more of a question for the IIHF, but I mainly think that we can start talking about how to get these countries back into competitions only after the war is over. Now is not the right time at all. We don’t know how the war will end and what the situation will be like after it.

By the way, before the championship, Latvia did not allow the Belarusian coaches of Kazakhstan to enter their territory, so they had to find a replacement…

Again.

Let’s say that the IIHF, following the example of some federations, would accept Russians and Belarusians back under certain circumstances. Would it change anything in the ongoing championship? Latvia wouldn’t let them into the country anyway, would it?

Exactly. Definitely not at the moment. And I can tell you that in the situation as it is today, I strongly believe that if these countries were invited, not only Latvia, but many teams would simply not play in such a tournament.

The war in Ukraine also affected Dinamo Riga, which left the Russian KHL and moved to the Latvian league not long after the start of the invasion. This is semi-pro competition, right?

Exactly.

How many players in this league need a second job to make ends meet?

I would say almost everyone. Local teams cannot compete with professional leagues in other hockey countries, such as Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden. After all, we are only a country with about twenty covered winter stadiums and we don’t even have two million people. Our economy is not that strong.

You also work as the general manager of the club Zemgale, which last season, in addition to the Latvian league, also played Mestis, the second highest Finnish competition. How did this happen?

We began to pursue this when the war in Ukraine broke out. If you remember, Dinamo also had a HK Riga team playing in the youth league in Russia. So our goal was to create an opportunity for players who are eighteen to twenty-three years old, want to prove something in hockey and study at the same time. Play Mestis (functions primarily as a competition for young players, editor’s note) it sounded like a good idea because Finland is geographically closest to us. And the Finnish side gave us this opportunity.

Will the cooperation continue?

We certainly want to, we are now discussing it with the Finnish association. We await the final decision which will come at the end of this month.

What are the long-term plans of the leadership of the Latvian union of which you are a part? Do you want to create a professional domestic league, or another Dinamo, only in a place other than Russia?

We are not an entertainment industry, but an organization that takes care of the development of players of various age categories from five-year-olds almost to professionals. We are unable to create a professional team. That is up to the private sector and municipalities. Of course we want to have a strong representation, but our main task is to develop youth hockey in Latvia.

But it already happened that you are also the general manager of Zemgale. Wouldn’t it be tempting to play with this club, for example, in the top Finnish league?

Of course that would be nice. But we know the situation in Europe. Something like this requires quite a lot of funding and we are just at the beginning. I don’t think we are capable of going super-professional in the next three to five years. Of course, I would love it if it worked, but I honestly don’t think it’s possible at the moment.

By the way, Latvia has eight players from the Czech extra league in the ongoing championship. No competition has a higher representation. Why did many representatives go there after the end of Riga in the KHL?

This is perhaps a question for you, because you know better what is happening in the Czech Republic and why Latvians are so welcome there. I can say for myself that the Czech league offers a good level of hockey and the opportunity to earn something, to prove yourself. For example, Balinskis signed a contract with Florida after a good season in the Czech Republic. This means that this competition means something in the world.

What have you heard about it directly from Latvian players?

Those I spoke to told me they were happy there. With the country as such, with the clubs they play in, with the fans.

So will we see more Latvian hockey players in the extra league?

I would be very happy for that. But it depends on the clubs if they give them a chance.