WJC: 2025 Team Latvia Roster Talk

[Namejs]

Just finished watching some of your practice, Latvia are having their camp locally. Seemed like a fairly basic "flow skate" today, which makes sense to get their legs under them having just arrived. Good pace out there and some younger players (I'm assuming due to face shields) who stand out for their speed and talent, have to think you can be even stronger next year. I was having trouble figuring out which one was Ducks prospect Uljanskis, you have a good group of left handed Dmen out there.

All three goalies looked sharp and seem like they will battle hard. Had to look them up afterwards, if I have them identified correctly, I like Feldbergs/Ozols/Fecers in that order.

Assuming you have not read any of the earlier posts here, that's very observant of you.
We have an extremely young team with 4 '08s and 3 '07s. 2007-09 born players are probably the most talented Latvia has seen in a very long time.

Watch out for the Latvia U18 team next Spring, they might actually do some damage. This team is there to gain some experience and stay up in the Elite tier.

 

[Namejs]

To reiterate my point:

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Assuming you have not read any of the earlier posts here, that's very observant of you.
We have an extremely young team with 4 '08s and 3 '07s. 2007-09 born players are probably the most talented Latvia has seen in a very long time.

Watch out for the Latvia U18 team next Spring, they might actually do some damage. This team is there to gain some experience and stay up in the Elite tier.

I see now that it aligns with what you guys have been discussing. But no just something I noted as soon as they started, the more naturally gifted looking players almost all seemed to be in full face shields. There were two forwards of opposite hands who stood out in particular to me, both a bit on the smaller side.

 

[Namejs]

But left wing looks weak and there's no distinct top line.

Mateiko - Murnieks - Osmanis would solve that. And just move Klaucans to 4C.

So it looks like I was spot on about this, they're consolidating our offensive punch entirely on the top line. They should score tonight.

 

[Namejs]

Not sure why they started Fecers tonight. I had him as the 3rd string goalie. Feldbergs isn't even dressed.

Looks like they're juggling the lines and D pairings mid-game. Murnieks was on the ice with Naudins and Serkins when Czechs scored one of the goals. Bulans was paired up with Skeltins. None of that matches with the starting lineup.

The average age of that line is 16.7. That's young even for an U18 tournament.

It kind of looks like they're trying out a bunch of stuff to see if something sticks. And this is the first eye test for Abols and all the triple underagers and you can bet he's laser scanning them with that cold stare of his.

 

[Namejs]

Feldbergs seems to be starting in the last exhibition game against Switzerland, Mateiko scratched, Flugins an extra skater and the lines don't really make any sense.

A bit of hide and seek, maybe.

 

[Namejs]

We faced 43 shots against Switzerland. Feldbergs saved 38/42, which is probably the only good sign other than Murnieks racking up points in each of the exhibition games so far.

We only kept it close for about 30 minutes, which is a worrying sign and we will likely get routed by the US and Canada in a way that was more typical 10-15 years ago. I expect double digit type losses.

The only thing saving us this year is how bad Germany and Kazakhstan are, but the gap with Finland, Czechia and the rest of the field other than Slovakia seems to be a little bigger this time around.

I just hope Mateiko isn't injured.

 

[Eye of Ra]

We faced 43 shots against Switzerland. Feldbergs saved 38/42, which is probably the only good sign other than Murnieks racking up points in each of the exhibition games so far.

We only kept it close for about 30 minutes, which is a worrying sign and we will likely get routed by the US and Canada in a way that was more typical 10-15 years ago. I expect double digit type losses.

The only thing saving us this year is how bad Germany and Kazakhstan are, but the gap with Finland, Czechia and the rest of the field other than Slovakia seems to be a little bigger this time around.

I just hope Mateiko isn't injured.

So you are saying Slovakia is as bad as Kazakstan?

 

[Namejs]

So you are saying Slovakia is as bad as Kazakstan?

No, how did you arrive at that conclusion? I'm saying Kazakhstan is really bad and Germany has a bad crop this year. Slovakia is right there with Germany and Latvia sans Dvorsky. They are slightly better this year, but with a major overlap in talent.

Look up Satan's numbers. Chovan is outscored by a couple of Latvians who did not even make the camp, Klecka played 2nd line wing for Slovakia, while Haritoncevs was not even invited, etc.

 

[Eye of Ra]

No, how did you arrive at that conclusion? I'm saying Kazakhstan is really bad and Germany has a bad crop this year. Slovakia is right there with Germany and Latvia sans Dvorsky. They are slightly better this year, but with a major overlap in talent.

Look up Satan's numbers. Chovan is outscored by a couple of Latvians who did not even make the camp, Klecka played 2nd line wing for Slovakia, while Haritoncevs was not even invited, etc.

So without Dvorsky the slovaks would be weaker than Germany and Latvia?

 

[Namejs]

So without Dvorsky the slovaks would be weaker than Germany and Latvia?

No, Dvorsky is what makes them better. Without Dvorsky I see no major difference, these would be close match-ups.

The examples I listed were meant to illustrate the overlap in talent, i.e., the similarity of each nation's talent pool.

 

[Eye of Ra]

No, Dvorsky is what makes them better. Without Dvorsky I see no major difference, these would be close match-ups.

The examples I listed were meant to illustrate the overlap in talent, i.e., the similarity of each nation's talent pool.

You forgot that Slovakia played 2 pre tournament games vs Germany without Dvorsky and they were not exactly close match ups.

 

[Namejs]

You forgot that Slovakia played 2 pre tournament games vs Germany without Dvorsky and they were not exactly close match ups.

They have played over 20 matches against each other over the last decade and their goal differential is 72:64.

If you're telling me they're not close, you must be part Slovakian.

As for this year's team, it is a weaker year for Germany and they are missing a couple leading players due to injuries as well. They are still the closest team to Slovakia in terms of talent.

 

[kutka]

No, Dvorsky is what makes them better. Without Dvorsky I see no major difference, these would be close match-ups.

The examples I listed were meant to illustrate the overlap in talent, i.e., the similarity of each nation's talent pool.

1st point - don't compare teams without players, Dvorský is part of Team Slovakia and thats also what makes it better, period.
2nd point -it doesnt matter what you see, xy proffesional scouts decided that Slovakia is on a diffirent tier than latvia and Germany, period.

No, how did you arrive at that conclusion? I'm saying Kazakhstan is really bad and Germany has a bad crop this year. Slovakia is right there with Germany and Latvia sans Dvorsky. They are slightly better this year, but with a major overlap in talent.

Look up Satan's numbers. Chovan is outscored by a couple of Latvians who did not even make the camp, Klecka played 2nd line wing for Slovakia, while Haritoncevs was not even invited, etc.

3rd point - look up straka, svrcek, misiak, Chrenko, Zálesák, belusko, kupec, Kiss... they are All playing major junior or regurarly among men in slovak extraleague, and im not counting in The whole NAHL and BCHL groups. If they were latvian they would most likely be in the line-up
My point? - klečka, Šatan , etc. are there because of some reason which only coaching staff sees - not you, period.

 

[Namejs]

1st point - don't compare teams without players, Dvorský is part of Team Slovakia and thats also what makes it better, period.
2nd point -it doesnt matter what you see, xy proffesional scouts decided that Slovakia is on a diffirent tier than latvia and Germany, period.

3rd point - look up straka, svrcek, misiak, Chrenko, Zálesák, belusko, kupec, Kiss... they are All playing major junior or regurarly among men in slovak extraleague, and im not counting in The whole NAHL and BCHL groups. If they were latvian they would most likely be in the line-up
My point? - klečka, Šatan , etc. are there because of some reason which only coaching staff sees - not you, period.

A single prospect by himself is by definition an outlier. The median is what is more indicative of your national talent pool, which actually works in your favor, because Germany is pumping out draizaitls and stutzles at a much higher rate. Actually, there's not a single elite Slovak NHLer.

Slovakia is by no means better than Germany and you have to be deluded to actually believe that. If anything, the opposite is true.

I would gladly hear out these xy pro scouts you refer to. Do quote and source these claims.

 

[Eye of Ra]

A single prospect by himself is by definition an outlier. The median is what is more indicative of your national talent pool, which actually works in your favor, because Germany is pumping out draizaitls and stutzles at a much higher rate. Actually, there's not a single elite Slovak NHLer.

Slovakia is by no means better than Germany and you have to be deluded to actually believe that. If anything, the opposite is true.

I would gladly hear out these xy pro scouts you refer to. Do quote and source these claims.

I actually never heard anyone say Slovaks is on the same level as Germany and Latvia. Only you i heard it from.

Most people have this tiers;

Tier 1; Usa, Canada, Finland
Tier 2 ; Sweden, Czechs, Slovaks, Swiss
Tier 3; Germany, Latvia, Kazakstan

 

[Vikz]

Slovakia is by no means better than Germany and you have to be deluded to actually believe that. If anything, the opposite is true.

I would gladly hear out these xy pro scouts you refer to. Do quote and source these claims.

Well there are people who make a living out of predicting sports results - bookies. I just did a quick Google check, since I have no idea which ones are the more reliable. But all top search results put Slovakia not only significantly above Germany, but also Switzerland. Slovakia is actually closer to Czechia than to Germany and usually rated as having about 5x the chances of Latvia to win the tourney.

Pretty sure these guys are even more reliable than any single scout since, you know, money.

 

[kudla]

Well there are people who make a living out of predicting sports results - bookies. I just did a quick Google check, since I have no idea which ones are the more reliable. But all top search results put Slovakia not only significantly above Germany, but also Switzerland. Slovakia is actually closer to Czechia than to Germany and usually rated as having about 5x the chances of Latvia to win the tourney.

Pretty sure these guys are even more reliable than any single scout since, you know, money.

These bookies tend to make silly mistakes sometimes too. I am not sure to what extent they actually analyze the rosters for juniors, because these fluctuate between countries more than in men category. For example Finland can have a stronger generation than Sweden, but still end up ranked lower than them.

For this year though, honestly, I don't know why Slovakia ranks higher than Switzerland. I guess Dvorsky does a lot along with some junior success we have had recently? I'd put Slovakia slightly behind Swiss this year.

As for Latvia and Germany, they are clearly way behind the pack this year. They are lucky that Kazakhstan does not look good at all, despite being a bit of a mystery yet - I'm not that sure what to expect there.

Latvia vs. Germany will be a hell of a game

 

[Namejs]

I actually never heard anyone say Slovaks is on the same level as Germany and Latvia. Only you i heard it from.

Most people have this tiers;

Tier 1; Usa, Canada, Finland
Tier 2 ; Sweden, Czechs, Slovaks, Swiss
Tier 3; Germany, Latvia, Kazakstan

Why is Kazakhstan in the same tier as Germany or Latvia and why is Slovakia anywhere near Sweden and Czechia? What is that based on? What metric is used here? Do elaborate with specifics, please.

Don't give me this argumentum ad populum BS, most people in Papua New Guinea believe eating a white man brings you good luck for life.

Relaying the intellectual heavy lifting to some other virtual group of people that might or might not actually exist is extremely sloppy work.

Own it and lay down the facts.

 

[Namejs]

Well there are people who make a living out of predicting sports results - bookies. I just did a quick Google check, since I have no idea which ones are the more reliable. But all top search results put Slovakia not only significantly above Germany, but also Switzerland. Slovakia is actually closer to Czechia than to Germany and usually rated as having about 5x the chances of Latvia to win the tourney.

Pretty sure these guys are even more reliable than any single scout since, you know, money.

Well, unfortunately, that is not how bookies work at all. There's not some mysterious cabal of all knowing bookies levitating over the Himalayas.

The odds are decided entirely by market forces or supply and demand. If I would bet a million euros on Kazakhstan winning the WJC, their odds would fall dramatically because of how illiquid this specific betting market is, and they would immediately become one of the favorites, waiting for these erroneous odds to be corrected by other bettors.

Also, the Swiss are 68:32 favorites against Slovakia.

Slovakia are usually similar favorites vs. Latvia.

So, you know, maybe look up the actual head-to-head odds before trying to use it as your main point.

 

[ozo]

They are lucky that Kazakhstan does not look good at all, despite being a bit of a mystery yet - I'm not that sure what to expect there.

Kazakhstan probably have their best team ever, but not by a margin significant enough that they should threaten survival at Elite level. That said in a one off game against a team that ices six or seven U18 eligible players.... who knows.

 

[Namejs]

Kazakhstan probably have their best team ever, but not by a margin significant enough that they should threaten survival at Elite level. That said in a one off game against a team that ices six or seven U18 eligible players.... who knows.

Yup, Kazakhstan can definitely beat either one of Germany or Latvia on a really lucky day.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Yup, Kazakhstan can definitely beat either one of Germany or Latvia on a really lucky day.

But not Slovakia.