“Slovakian Hockey Team Faces Challenging Duel with Latvia: Assistant Coach Warns Against Underestimating Home Team”

Although our second opponent survived a terrible entry into the championship and received a debacle from Canada, assistant coach Peter Frühauf does not recommend underestimating the home team. According to him, things could turn ugly in the game against the Slovaks, similar to what happened in the match against the Czech Republic.

“It is difficult to evaluate them because the Canadians took the lead very quickly and then bounced back by a couple of goals. The overall impression of the Latvian team then disappears, but we have available materials from previous matches.

I must say that they can play very fast and have very dangerous power plays. Let’s try to avoid what happened yesterday. We have to play ideally without suspensions,” he stated after the morning training, which was voluntary and was attended by 13 players.

“When we play games every day, it’s just a matter of getting the boys to adjust their legs and sticks. We have an evening game and there is nothing special to prepare for in terms of the system. It’s just about the boys having their routine before the game.” explained the minor non-participation.

Slovakia should skate against Latvia in the same line-up, but before lunch there were still a few question marks. One of them is the defender Mislav Rosandič, who scored the second goal for the Czech Republic, but then went to the showers prematurely for a foul knee.

“Mislava is awaiting disciplinary proceedings, which should take place around twelve o’clock. We don’t know what the commission’s view is. We also have some defense prepared. We hope he will come in the evening.’

The situation with the roster is also complicated by the question of Tomáš Tatar’s arrival. The decision has already been made regarding the goalkeeper, but the fans have to wait a few more hours for his name. “We know who will go to the gate, but I won’t tell you. We should still go with essentially the same line-up, except for Mislav Rosandič, we’ll see how the situation develops. If Tomáš Tatar refused to participate before the start of the match, it is possible that we will add a 13th striker to the roster.”

Defender Šimon Nemec is also scheduled to arrive in Riga today, but he should be available to the team only after the match with Latvia. Peter Frühauf tamed passions and expectations before his arrival. “He is still a young boy. I don’t like to say that anyone should be a leader, especially at that age. It will put enormous pressure on him. We’re glad he’s coming. We know what his strengths are, what his qualities are. But we need him to play without extreme pressure.

Then he will play his best hockey. He definitely has his roles in the team, he will probably be on the power play, so we will expect good passes from him and a good shot from the blue. I think he will improve our game.”

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