Head coach of the U18 hockey team Oleg Sorokin Photo: IIHF
Changes have been made to the Latvian U18 hockey team, which will start at the European Youth Winter Olympics in Voukatti, Finland, from December 13 to 17, the Latvian Hockey Federation (LHF) reports.
Goalkeeper Linards Feldbergs and striker Edgars Mucenieks are no longer in the team. Kārlis Beķeris-Brīvkalns and Reinards Pētersons will go to Voukatti instead of these hockey players. On Friday, it became known that the Swiss U18 national team had returned to participate in the Youth Olympics. Consequently, the tournament organizers have made changes to the competition regulations. Now all teams will play in one round, playing each one.
The first match for the unit led by Oleg Sorokin is scheduled for Monday at 18:30 against Finland. In addition to the Latvian national team, the national teams of Russia, the Czech Republic, Finland and Belarus will also take part in these hockey tournaments. Therefore, the tournament will also be watched by the scouts of the National Hockey League (NHL) teams.
Latvia will be represented in 6 sports at the European Youth Winter Olympics in Vuokatti. The Olympics competition is divided into two stages: this year from December 12 to 17, a hockey tournament will take place, while in 2022 competitions will be held in other winter sports, where a total of 20 young athletes could represent Latvia in 5 sports – downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, figure skating and short track.
Composition of the Latvian U18 hockey team
Goalkeepers: Dave David Rolov, Kārlis Beķeris-Brīvkalns (both – HS “Rīga”);
Defenders: Pēteris Bulāns, Dario Mackēvičs, Mārtiņš Krūklītis (all – HS “Rīga”), Viktors Kurbaka (Daugavpils “Dinaburga”), Elvis Laškovs (“Tukums”), Renarts Bērziņš (“Pirates”);
Attackers: Roger Bucharest (Lions of Zurich, Switzerland), Emil Veckaktins (Lugano, Switzerland), Erast Nazarenko (Borlange, Sweden), Rainer Ruller, Mikus Krumpans, Otto Polakov, Erik Matejko, Raivis Strazdins (all – HS “Riga”), Rūdolfs Muraško, Kevins Strādnieks, Roberts Vītols, forward Reinards Pētersons (all – “Zemgale” / LLU).
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