WC: 2024 Team Latvia Roster Talk

[Namejs]

Gavars is indeed in the training camp, as well as aforementioned Lavins and Skrastins. The overall list of players is just something. Not sure why you even start a training camp when theres like 1.5 players who can make the final roster. Maybe coaches need practice too? Anyways, the NCAA guys are the best there is at the moment, and they should have a good look in the nearest games.

The first exhibition matches are a week away.

And at least a third of them have a chance of making the cut, including the NCAA kids.

So you sort of gave an answer to your own question there.

If they wanted to take a look at the NCAA players, they would have had to do that early. Smart thinking and makes perfect sense.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Isn't some kind of exhibition game against Austria actually today?

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Gavars is indeed in the training camp, as well as aforementioned Lavins and Skrastins. The overall list of players is just something. Not sure why you even start a training camp when theres like 1.5 players who can make the final roster. Maybe coaches need practice too? Anyways, the NCAA guys are the best there is at the moment, and they should have a good look in the nearest games.

Finland has been doing this for years. The rationale is to have a large pool of players familiar with a style of play both in case of injury and to have a steady pool of players as some retire.

 

[SoundAndFury]

What is the news on Merzlikins? If he isn't coming the goalie situation becomes pretty interesting.

 

[Namejs]

What is the news on Merzlikins? If he isn't coming the goalie situation becomes pretty interesting.

He's joining early next week.

I'd say the goalie situation is more interesting with him on the roster, as the coaching staff will have to make a tough decision in case he does not perform well.

If he gets 'demoted' mid-tournament, that could cause major issues. Communication and trust is key here.

Gudlevskis is the clear 2nd goalie with Elvis on the team. He's been very solid in DEL this season.

I have been busy with non-hockey stuff, anyone with a recap of the last exhibition games? I only saw one game against the Finns and it seemed like the entire team structure held from last year despite almost an entirely different roster. Which is a very good sign.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Gudlevskis is the clear 2nd goalie with Elvis on the team. He's been very solid in DEL this season.

I assume you don't expect Silovs to come?

 

[Namejs]

I assume you don't expect Silovs to come?

I just find it unlikely to have both Vancouver and Abbotsford eliminated early.

 

[Khokhlach86]

Current roster

Latvijas izlases kandidāti treniņnometnē​

Pozīcija	Spēlētājs	Gads	Klubs	PČ
Vārtsargs	Ivars Punnenovs	1994.	Lakers (Šveice)	4
	Elvis Merziļkins	1994.	Blue Jackets (NHL)	5
	Ēriks Vītols	2001.	KeuPa (Somija-2)
Aizsargs	Oskars Cibuļskis	1988.	Blue Fox (Dānija)	9
	Ralfs Freibergs	1991.	Mountfield (Čehija)	7
	Jānis Jaks	1995.	Litvinov (Čehija)	6
	Kristaps Zīle	1997.	Litvinov (Čehija)	5
	Roberts Mamčics	1995.	Nove Zamky (Slovākija)	2
	Arvils Bergmanis	1999.	Alaska Fairbanks (NCAA)	2
	Kristofers Bindulis	1995.	Mihalovce (Slovākija)	1
	Sandis Smons	1999	La Chaux-de-Fonds (Šveice-2)	1
	Markuss Komuls	1998.	Trois-Rivieres (ECHL)
	Roberts Kaļķis	1998.	Marseille (Francija)
	Artūrs Andžāns	2001.	HPK (Somija)
Uzbrucējs	Andris Džeriņš	1988.	Blue Fox (Dānija)	12
	Kaspars Daugaviņš	1988.	Mihalovce (Slovākija)	11
	Roberts Bukarts	1990.	Vitkovice (Čehija)	10
	Rihards Bukarts	1995.	Vitkovice (Čehija)	6
	Oskars Batņa	1995.	Jukurit (Somija)	4
	Rihards Marenis	1993.	Nybro (Zviedrija-2)	3
	Renārs Krastenbergs	1998.	99ers (Austrija)	3
	Toms Andersons	1993.	La Chaux-de-Fonds (Šveice-2)	1
	Dans Ločmelis	2004.	UMass (NCAA)	1
	Haralds Egle	1996.	Liptovski Mikulas (Slovākija)
	Filips Buncis	1997.	Vastervik (Zviedrija-2)
	Kristaps Skrastiņš	2001.	New Hampshire (NCAA)
	Oskars Lapinskis	2002.	Tigers (Šveice)
	Fēlikss Gavars	2002.	St. Lawrence (NCAA)
	Martins Laviņš	2003.	New Hampshire (NCAA)

 

[Namejs]

Still missing: Abols and Dzierkals (SHL finals), Gudlevskis (DEL finals), Balcers and Kenins (NLA finals), Cukste and Indrasis (Allsvenskan finals) and Tralmaks (Cze Extraliga relegation).

There's going to be some tough tough cuts among the forwards. The depth has really improved over the years.

 

[jonas2244]

Kenins role declined a lot in the past years. Courious to see if he still can play a role on the NT.

 

[Namejs]

Kenins role declined a lot in the past years. Courious to see if he still can play a role on the NT.

He is the fastest recorded ice hockey player in history. 41.32 km/h.

Speed is the first attribute to go due to age. He's still got the physicality and the right mindset, but you're right, he might not even make it, the competition is really tough.

 

[SoundAndFury]

The talk about Ansons in the U18 thread made me revisit his brother's stats and boy are those ugly. I think he scored 1 point in 20+ games since his name was last mentioned in this thread. Courtesty camp invite is the best he can hope at this point and while I said he is lucky to have a contract for the next season, at this point it wouldn't be surprising if the Pens just cut him loose.

 

[Namejs]

The talk about Ansons in the U18 thread made me revisit his brother's stats and boy are those ugly. I think he scored 1 point in 20+ games since his name was last mentioned in this thread. Courtesty camp invite is the best he can hope at this point and while I said he is lucky to have a contract for the next season, at this point it wouldn't be surprising if the Pens just cut him loose.

Yup, he had a nice little scoring run early in the season, but his stats just regressed back to the mean. He's not playing for the national team, at least not this year.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Scratch Silovs off the list if Canucks survive without Demko.

 

[jonas2244]

Rudolf Baclers left the game vs. Lausanne tonight during the first period and probably won't return.

 

[Namejs]

Rudolf Baclers left the game vs. Lausanne tonight during the first period and probably won't return.

Well, fuc, what happened?

 

[jonas2244]

Well, fuc, what happened?

The only thing you could see was him going to the locker room. No images of the incident itself.

He didn't return and it's playoff, if it's possible you return.

 

[JohnWillow]

Rudolf Baclers left the game vs. Lausanne tonight during the first period and probably won't return.

Thankfully nothing serious. Might be back in the next game.

 

[jonas2244]

He's not playing tonight.

 

[ozo]

He's not playing tonight.

Sir, I do not like your posts lately

 

[jonas2244]

I'm just the messenger so please don't kill me but Balcers is also not in the lineup of game 7. You don't miss a game 7 if you don't have to.

 

[Namejs]

I'm just the messenger so please don't kill me but Balcers is also not in the lineup of game 7. You don't miss a game 7 if you don't have to.

Yeah, he's not going to join the national team.

I am lowering my expectations accordingly. Without Balcers we don't really have another elite top 6 winger. He would have been absolutely crucial on the PP and on the top line.

We're also missing Balinskis - who was heavily underrated by everyone before he made it to the NHL. We're missing Rubins. Jaks has a minor injury. That's our top 3 Ds and the only ones competent enough to move the puck up the ice.

We're missing Blueger and Girgensons at C. Abols hasn't confirmed joining the team yet. Locmelis is disqualified for the next 2 upcoming games.

We're missing a bunch of our key players. This really is going to be more about trying out some NT-rookies and taking a look at some NCAA players and graduates (Egle, Tralmaks) to see how they fit in and contribute. We do have our Olympic qualies very soon.

As long as we end up in the top 10, I'm going to be content. Looking how disjointed we have been in the exhibition games, I'm really not hoping for much this time, especially seeing that Germany and especially Slovakia are closer to their A team.

 

[Dofs]

So, from the previous year we won't have Balinskis, Balcers, Rubins, Silovs, all of whom were the leaders of that team, Ro. Bukarts had a bad year, Daugavins has played in a pretty significantly weaker league than before. On the upside, Merzlikins is in, Tralmaks is in and had a great year too, both Gudlevskis and Batna had fantastic years as well, Ri. Bukart had a significant league upgrade from the last year.

So, comparing gains and losses with the last year, the current team is pretty significantly weaker. All the while many other teams are bringing much stronger rosters than last year.

So yeah, quarters would be a huge win already.

I wouldn't give much significance to the preseason results though, they were never a goof indicator of how the actual championship went.

 

[Namejs]

So, from the previous year we won't have Balinskis, Balcers, Rubins, Silovs, all of whom were the leaders of that team, Ro. Bukarts had a bad year, Daugavins has played in a pretty significantly weaker league than before. On the upside, Merzlikins is in, Tralmaks is in and had a great year too, both Gudlevskis and Batna had fantastic years as well, Ri. Bukart had a significant league upgrade from the last year.

So, comparing gains and losses with the last year, the current team is pretty significantly weaker. All the while many other teams are bringing much stronger rosters than last year.

So yeah, quarters would be a huge win already.

I wouldn't give much significance to the preseason results though, they were never a goof indicator of how the actual championship went.

Sure. I never mentioned any results, though. We just played like dog shit.

I do believe in Vitolins and our team identity being upheld. We are going to be gritty and gutsy and disciplined, but the transition game is going to be much more basic, the skill level is not going to be the same.

I am eagerly waiting for an announcement on Abols. Without him our main rivals would become France.

 

[Namejs]

No Kenins as well due to an injury. He was actually decent in the NL play-offs particularly in the finals. We could have used him on the 4th line.