WJC: 2025 Team Latvia Roster Talk

[Joe Zanussi]

Such a win!! Congrats

 

[Namejs]

Congrats Latvia ! Even more impressive is this result is achieved with 6 U18 players !

Yup, meaning the Latvian U18 WJC team should be actually competitive and not in a flukey way.

 

[S E P H]

Is the story big on Latvia news today?

 

[Namejs]

Is the story big on Latvia news today?

Of course. Obviously, the main story throughout the day in all sports media, but also headlines in all major news media.

This is how the main page of the largest news medium delfi.lv looks like right now.

'Ted is proud'.

WJC is pretty big in Latvia, but not quite close to World Champs or Olympics. Most obviously read the news in the morning, but they are broadcasting all the games live with thousands of fans staying up until 5 am.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Feldbergs is crazy

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think the fact that Latvia has a bunch of very legit prospects for 2025, 2026, and 2027 on this team and they might be a team that can pull off more than a fluke win as those players get older has been undercovered. This isn’t Kazakhstan or Germany level talent this year on the team. There might be 2-3 future NHL’ers.

 

[Namejs]

Naudins looked solid. His first point at the WJC. I would play him against Germany. There was no way of telling he just turned 16.

The entire team looked solid.

It's hard to single out anyone for not being up to par. If anything, Uljanskis has given the puck away a few too many times. That early US goal was on him. He needs to clean up his game at his own end.

 

[Joe Zanussi]

I think the fact that Latvia has a bunch of very legit prospects for 2025, 2026, and 2027 on this team and they might be a team that can pull off more than a fluke win as those players get older has been undercovered. This isn’t Kazakhstan or Germany level talent this year on the team. There might be 2-3 future NHL’ers.

14 back next year if I’m counting correctly.

 

[Namejs]

Osmanis will miss the game against Finland, unfortunately.

The good news are that it seems to be the eyelid that was injured the most and not the eye itself.

 

[Namejs]

Mateiko - Murnieks - Osmanis
Dilevka - Livsics - Sieradzkis
Mots - Ozollapa - Dommers
Serkins - Klaucans - Berzkalns
Naudins

Bulans - Cjunskis
Uljanskis - Kurbaka
Briedis - Sarts
Retenais

Bolded players are available next year. Bolded and italics are available for the U18 WJC.

Naudins is enjoying more minutes as the tournament goes along and he belong at this level, having just turned 16. He could slot into that Mateiko role with his size easily.

Both Klaucans and Berzkalns are Cs, so one will slot into that 2C role. And there you go, 3 returning lines, if you count the 14th forward Macijevskis.

With prospects like Reidzans and Malisevs coming up and some omissions like Flugins or Haritoncevs, we are definitely looking better offensively next year.

In terms of D, I had underestimated Bulans before. He is going to be a career pro, likely in Euro top leagues. Even though he isn't drafted, he is clearly more all-around player than Uljanskis at this point and time. With some D prospects coming up, like Grundmanis, there's some potential for someone to step up in 2025, but I don't see an improvement in D corps. It's going to be about the same, but Uljanskis will have to prove himself and take on more responsibilities.

In terms of goalies, Vecvanags should be our go to guy, but this season has been a weird one for him. He just moved to the Q and we shall see if he can hold a .900 SVS% there.

So, overall, we're going to be deeper and more skilled offensively next year.

And with almost 2 entire forward lines available for the U18 Worlds, we might do some damage there, if we don't have any glaring holes at D or in the goalie dept.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Latvia could be a medal contender at a tournament the next 3-4 years, whether a U18 Worlds or WJC, especially without Russia.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Any Osmanis update?

 

[Namejs]

Any Osmanis update?

There have been no updates on his status.

I think it is very unlikely, but it depends on the specific type of injury he suffered.

My educated guess is that it's probably an eyelid laceration due to an eyepatch worn over the eye in interviews and Osmanis himself stating they will evaluate his status before the QFs.

If it was something more serious like a corneal abrasion or cut, he would be ruled out immediately.

However, if the laceration wasn't large enough or if it was more of a bruise or minor cut, they wouldn't use a patch to immobilize or protect the eyelid in the first place.

Even if the swelling is down, there's no point in risking infection or re-injury

 

[Namejs]

Osmanis om otäcka ögonskadan: Fick panik

OTTAWA. Klubbspetsen for upp och träffade Bruno Osmanis öga. Plötsligt blev allting svart: – Jag fick stor panik, det kändes som jag inte hade något öga kvar, s

www.aftonbladet.se

Yup, Osmanis out. And it looks like the eye itself was slightly injured, but his vision is OK and he'll be fine. A check-up in 10 days to have a better look at the eye.

Scary stuff.

 

[EK47]

Mateiko - Murnieks - Osmanis
Dilevka - Livsics - Sieradzkis
Mots - Ozollapa - Dommers
Serkins - Klaucans - Berzkalns
Naudins

Bulans - Cjunskis
Uljanskis - Kurbaka
Briedis - Sarts
Retenais

Bolded players are available next year. Bolded and italics are available for the U18 WJC.

Naudins is enjoying more minutes as the tournament goes along and he belong at this level, having just turned 16. He could slot into that Mateiko role with his size easily.

Both Klaucans and Berzkalns are Cs, so one will slot into that 2C role. And there you go, 3 returning lines, if you count the 14th forward Macijevskis.

With prospects like Reidzans and Malisevs coming up and some omissions like Flugins or Haritoncevs, we are definitely looking better offensively next year.

In terms of D, I had underestimated Bulans before. He is going to be a career pro, likely in Euro top leagues. Even though he isn't drafted, he is clearly more all-around player than Uljanskis at this point and time. With some D prospects coming up, like Grundmanis, there's some potential for someone to step up in 2025, but I don't see an improvement in D corps. It's going to be about the same, but Uljanskis will have to prove himself and take on more responsibilities.

In terms of goalies, Vecvanags should be our go to guy, but this season has been a weird one for him. He just moved to the Q and we shall see if he can hold a .900 SVS% there.

So, overall, we're going to be deeper and more skilled offensively next year.

And with almost 2 entire forward lines available for the U18 Worlds, we might do some damage there, if we don't have any glaring holes at D or in the goalie dept.

Impressive! With a bit of luck you could win a medal next year.