WarriorofTime
Registered User
- Jul 3, 2010
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U18: 2024 Team Latvia
- Thread starter Namejs
- Start date
The causality goes in the opposite way of what you suggested and implied.
It's like saying you have to move to the USA U18 NTDP to make it in hockey in the States. It's just the way their system is set up on purpose. The actual hockey pyramid is not in any way based on a single hockey academy.
I know it's still 3 months away, but after last year's wjc u18 performance and current wjc u20 performance, I'm really looking forward to seeing the Latvian national team at the next U18 world cup (if there's a thread about that I I couldn't find it, that's why I'm asking here).
What roster do you expect for the team and the likely lineups?
Serkins - Murnieks - Berzkalns
Naudins - Klaucans - Flugins
Reidzans - Tarvids - Malisevs
Utnans - Kuzmins - Spigulis
Saperins
Sarts - Naglis
A. Smits - Grundmanis
Auzins - Tutins
Vitols
Capars
Plumins
Berzkalns could be moved to 2C or 3C, depending on how good Tarvids/Kuzmins are in exhibition games. Malisevs is a very talented '09 but we shall see if the coaches will invite him to the camp. It wouldn't surprise me if they opted for older '07 players based in HS Riga.
The U18 team is coached by the HS Riga (Latvian NDPT) head coach, so he will bring at least a forward line and a D pairing over. That should be the 3rd or 4th line so I'm not sure if he's going to go for defensively responsible shutdown players with larger frames or simply the most talented kids.
Same for defencemen. No clear standouts at the lower pairing Ds and there's about 5-6 decent forwards to pick from for 3-4 spots.
There are a bunch of Latvian players in the Swedish and Finnish junior leagues, with Riga-based teams playing in the Finnish junior system, so there's definitely some depth players I have missed.
There are also some promising kids like Rutkis based in North America. Depending on the logistics they might or might not take a look at some of them right before the tournament.
Anyhow, a pretty solid roster. I would wait with any predictions until we know the actual roster and see how they look in exhibition games.
On a sidenote, Flugins with his first 2 goal game in the OHL tonight. He seems to have a chip on his shoulder after not making the WJC roster. He started the season with 1 point in 16 games. 3 points in his last 3 games after being the final cut. Gotta love that.
Naudins - Klaucans - Flugins
Reidzans - Tarvids - Malisevs
Utnans - Kuzmins - Spigulis
Saperins
Sarts - Naglis
A. Smits - Grundmanis
Auzins - Tutins
Vitols
Capars
Plumins
Berzkalns could be moved to 2C or 3C, depending on how good Tarvids/Kuzmins are in exhibition games. Malisevs is a very talented '09 but we shall see if the coaches will invite him to the camp. It wouldn't surprise me if they opted for older '07 players based in HS Riga.
The U18 team is coached by the HS Riga (Latvian NDPT) head coach, so he will bring at least a forward line and a D pairing over. That should be the 3rd or 4th line so I'm not sure if he's going to go for defensively responsible shutdown players with larger frames or simply the most talented kids.
Same for defencemen. No clear standouts at the lower pairing Ds and there's about 5-6 decent forwards to pick from for 3-4 spots.
There are a bunch of Latvian players in the Swedish and Finnish junior leagues, with Riga-based teams playing in the Finnish junior system, so there's definitely some depth players I have missed.
There are also some promising kids like Rutkis based in North America. Depending on the logistics they might or might not take a look at some of them right before the tournament.
Anyhow, a pretty solid roster. I would wait with any predictions until we know the actual roster and see how they look in exhibition games.
On a sidenote, Flugins with his first 2 goal game in the OHL tonight. He seems to have a chip on his shoulder after not making the WJC roster. He started the season with 1 point in 16 games. 3 points in his last 3 games after being the final cut. Gotta love that.
