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WC: Team Latvia

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GX

GX

Registered User
Dec 28, 2011
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Will do my best to keep the first post up-to-date with current camp roster, injuries, exhibition game scores, etc.

Final roster:
G Elvis Merzlikins - 24 - Swiss
G Kristers Gudlevskis - 25 - AHL
G Matiss Kivlenieks - 21 - AHL

D Kristaps Sotnieks - 31 - KHL
D Oskars Cibulskis - 30 - Czech
D Guntis Galvins - 32 - KHL
D Uvis Janis Balinskis - 20 - KHL
D Kristaps Zile - 20 - KHL
D Ralfs Freibergs - 26 - Czech
D Edgars Siksna - 25 - Russia2
D Kristians Rubins - 20 - WHL

LW Rudolfs Balcers - 21 - AHL
LW Miks Indrasis - 27 - KHL
LW Roberts Bukarts - 27 - Czech
C Andris Dzerins - 30 - Czech
C Rodrigo Abols - 22 - Sweden
LW Ronalds Kenins - 27 - Swiss
LW Rihards Bukarts - 22 - Germany
LW Martins Karsums - 32 - KHL
RW Mikelis Redlihs - 33 - KHL
RW Gints Meija - 30 - KHL
RW Gunars Skvorcovs - 28 - KHL
C Vitalijs Pavlovs - 28 - KHL
W Nikita Jevpalovs - 23 - KHL
C Oskars Batna - 22 - KHL
LW Frenks Razgals - 21 - KHL

Notable miss-outs:
C Zemgus Girgensons - 24 - NHL - Injured
W Kaspars Daugavins - 29 - KHL - Surgery
D Arturs Kulda - 29 - KHL - Rehabilitation
LW Lauris Darzins - 33 - KHL - Rehabilitation
G Ivars Punnenovs - 23 - Swiss - Injury
D Oskars Bartulis - 31 - KHL - Refused due insurance issues
G Janis Kalnins - 26 - KHL - Surgery
D Kristofers Bindulis - 22 - AHL - Injured during camp

Exhibition games:
03/23 Latvia 3:1 Latvia U18 (Goals: Vjaters, Semjonovs, Homjakovs)
04/06 Latvia 2:3 Norway (Tralmaks, Kalns)
04/07 Latvia 2:6 Norway (Kalns, Ābols)
04/11 Latvia 0:3 Finland
04/12 Latvia 0:5 Finland
04/20 Latvia 1:4 Slovakia (Ābols)
04/21 Latvia 1:4 Slovakia (Ro.Bukarts)
04/26 Latvia 1:2 OT Swiss (Džeriņš)
04/27 Latvia 0:3 Swiss
05/01 Latvia 1:6 Canada (Ābols)
Click to read more...
 
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Merzlikins? His team (HC Lugano) is in the playoff-semifinals in Switzerland starting next week.
 
Did a bit of scouting during the DEL semifinals between Berlin and Nuremberg yesterday. Berlin's latvian LW/RW Rihards Bukarts, who joined the team late in the season, plays red hot (!) in these playoffs. He already collected 3G+1A in 6 matches, including the series-winning goal in the QFs vs. Wolfsburg, despite not playing top minutes.
Bukarts possesses a decent wrist shot, handles the puck very well, and is one of the fastest skaters on the team, which allows him to create space for himself and his team mates.
During the first period he had a beautiful breakaway chance after receiving a pass from Nick Petersen in the neutral zone, and then going forehand -> backhand duping a defender, only being stopped by a monster save from Niklas Treutle.
In the second period his pass from the half boards to the top of the faceoff circle created a huge chance for german silver medal-winning national defender Frank Hördler to make it 3:0. Hördler scoring the early go-ahead goal yesterday and having chances for three playoff matches in this one.
Although Bukarts didn't register a point during yesterday's match, his play was offensively sound, and latvian hockey fans can be looking forward to his offensive contributions in Herning.
 

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Finally, some good news - Karsums un M.Redlihs join the team and there is hope for Oskars Bartulis too, after the public feud he has with Hartley.

All I really want to see is a younger team lead by Bukarts brothers (basically anyone not playing for Dinamo) and our top NA prospects. I suspect that QF is off the table and in such a case it sounds like the most interesting scenario, noting that the core of the team is due to reach age of 35 rather soon.
 
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The far back-up roster for the two exhibition games vs Norway on April 6 and 7 announced. Offensive core of the team is not making the trip. Instead, there are 6 guys making NT debut.

G Reinis Petkus - 22 - Latvia debut
G Uldis Calpa - 26 - Latvia

D Uvis Janis Balinskis - 20 - KHL
D Kristaps Zile - 20 - KHL
D Edgars Siksna - 25 - Russia2
D Eriks Sevcenko - 26 - Russia2
D Arturs Salija - 25 - Slovakia
D Gvido Jansons - 21 - NCAA debut
D Roberts Kalkis - 19 - Russia Jr
D Roberts Mamcics - 22 - Latvia debut

C Rodrigo Abols - 22 - Sweden
W Nikita Jevpalovs - 23 - KHL
C Vitalijs Pavlovs - 28 - KHL
LW Edgars Kulda - 23 - KHL
C Eduards Tralmaks - 21 - NCAA debut
C Filips Buncis - 20 - NCAA
C Oskars Batna - 22 - KHL
LW Frenks Razgals - 21 - KHL
W Emils Gegeris - 18 - KHL
LW Bruno Zabis - 27 - Latvia
LW Egils Kalns - 26 - Latvia
C Rihards Melnalksnis - 18 - Swiss Jr debut
C Daniels Berzins - 19 - Russia Jr debut
 
Elvis Merzlikins
Kristers Gudlevskis
Ivars Punnenovs or Matiss Kivlenieks??? call Columbus Blue Jackets?????

Kristaps Sotnieks
Guntis Galvins
Kristofers Bindulis
Uvis Janis Balinskis
Ralfs Freibergs
Oskars Cibulskis
Janis Jaks?
Oskars Bartulis?

Miks Indrasis
Mikelis Redlihs
Roberts Bukarts
Ronalds Kenins
Andris Dzerins
Martins Karsums
Rihards Bukarts
Zemgus Girgensons
Rodrigo Abols
Martins Dzierkals

Maris Bicevskis or Oskars Batna or Eduards Tralmaks
Gints Meija or Gunars Skvorcovs or Frenks Razgals or Nikita Jevpalovs

waiting for Teodors Blugers and Rudolfs Balcers

Karsums - Indrasis - Redlihs
Bukarts - Dzerins - Bukarts
Kenins - Girgensons - Dzierkals
? - Abols - ?
 
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The Bartulis hope did not last long - he refuses to join the camp as the insurance issues are still unresolved.
 
Ivars Punnenovs is out too. I never thought that in the post-Masalskis era we could face an issue with the goalies, considering how many potential starters we have, but now we have 2 guys injured.

The good news is that it seems not only Kivlenieks will be free from AHL, but also Gudlevskis, whose team is 10 points behind playoffs spot with 6 games to go. In addition, Merzlikins is still in the run for Swiss champion title.

I guess I'd prefer Gudlevskis over Merzlikins considering Elvis would join the NT after a tough and long playoff run and may luck stamina for let's say 5 starts in the preliminary round of WC. It would be cool for Kivlenieks/Mitens to go to the WC too, but I'm afraid they are both a bit too inexperienced to serve as the 2nd goaltender.
 
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Normally there is enough time to recover between the end of the Swiss championship and the WC. Genoni played the finals last year and had very strong WC. It's all about shape I guess.
 
As expected, Latvia loses both games to Norway (2:3, 2:6) and 9 guys are cut following that.

Daniels Bērziņš, Emīls Ģēģeris, Reinis Petkus, Gvido Jansons, Roberts Mamčics, Bruno Zabis, Filips Buncis, Edgars Kulda un Rihards Melnalksnis.
 
I really dislike these mega extended rosters we have in past years, seems to decrease the value of appearing on NT roster.
 
Some top junior reinforcements join the camp:

D Kristians Rubins - 20 - WHL
W Renars Krastenbergs - 19 - OHL (4 goals in WJC)
C Deniss Smirnovs - 19 - Swiss Jr (5 points in WJC)

+ NT management has shown interest in Gudlevskis and Balcers, both of whose AHL seasons are due to end. Currently no indication on how likely they are going to play, though.
 
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Would love to see something like that, but really hard to predict how that will pan out at the end of the day:

Karsums - Dzerins - Indrasis
Roberts Bukarts - Girgensons - Mikelis Redlihs
Balcers - Bluegers - Rihards Bukarts
Kenins - Abols - Skvorcovs
Krastenbergs

Galvins - Sotnieks
Freibergs - Cibulskis
Zile - Balinskis
Bindulis

Merzlikins
Gudlevskis
Kivlenieks

Scenario without Merzlikins, Girgensons, Balcers and Bluegers:

Karsums - Dzerins - Indrasis
Roberts Bukarts - Abols - Mikelis Redlihs
Kenins - Tralmaks - Rihards Bukarts
Bicevskis - Pavlovs (Smirnovs) - Skvorcovs
Krastenbergs

Galvins - Sotnieks
Freibergs - Cibulskis
Zile - Balinskis
Bindulis

Gudlevskis
Kivlenieks
Voris
 
It's not that big of a deal honestly. He isn't the greatest big ice player and he needs to carve a role in the NHL because his career is in a pretty bad spot at the moment. I would be more disappointed if Balcers was unable to attend.
 
Some more reinforcements Hartley says have agreed to join the camp:

G Kristers Gudlevskis - 25 - AHL
G Mareks Mitens - 20 - NCAA
G Gustavs Grigals - 19 - NAHL

D Oskars Cibulskis - 30 - Czech (will join next week)
C Andris Dzerins - 30 - Czech (will join next week)

Uncertain about Blugers and Balcers
 
Well as long as Pens and Sharks are in PO they will stay in NA for sure. Chances to see Blugers are next to none, Balcers will join at some point, I think.
 
Why would Blugers be tied to the Pens? There are a number of players above him in the order. They could afford to release him.
 
kabidjan18 said:
Why would Blugers be tied to the Pens? There are a number of players above him in the order. They could afford to release him.
Click to expand...
He was being called up during regular season so there is a chance Pittsburgh needs him. Even if it's ever so slight, there is no way NHL team releases the player they might actually need.

Not to mention WBS Pens are in the PO as well and as long as they stay there there is absolutely no chance of him joining.
 
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