Māris Martinsons: Our strength is the combination of experience and youth

Mogo/RSU hockey club, having won the third Latvian champion title in a row and the fifth in the team's history, is leaving an ever-deeper mark in the history book of Latvian hockey – Rīga 2000 hockey players have also won gold five times, but there are two more if you count the victories of Liepājas Metalurgs' first and second teams. This season, Ģirts Ankipāns' team had a certain decline after the successful game in the IIHF Continental Cup. And yet, at the decisive moment, Mogo/RSU managed to win first place in the OHL regular season and a month later raised the Latvian Champion's Cup above their heads for the third time in a row. Mogo/RSU president Māris Martinsons talks more about the difficult season and the fifth champion title.

It's been a while since Mogo/RSU won its fifth champion title. What are your emotions now?

The feeling is that something good has been accomplished. At the same time, there is relief and joy. This season was like a roller coaster for us. It started with surprises, the game did not go as we had hoped. Together with the coaches, we analyzed the situation, and it seems that we made the right conclusions. Three championship titles in a row cannot be a coincidence. This is the united work of the coaches and the entire team. They have created an excellent system that we are trying to transfer to youth hockey. And it is already giving results there too.

Anyway, we could not call this season simple?

Yes, that is true. Throughout the season, we were haunted by injuries at the most inopportune moments. Despite this, the coaches found solutions to keep the team on its feet and, slipping through the eye of a needle, once again won first place in the regular season. And then followed one of the most competitive playoff tournaments in recent years.

It seems that no one has yet complained about getting used to victories and won championship titles. You can't get tired of victories, can you?

A victory is always a victory, but winning it takes a lot of nerves. And the closer to the finish line, the more anxiety and excitement. It is easier to win the first victory than to defend the championship title. And where else for the third year in a row.

In the spring, Elviss Želubovskis once again wrote his name in the history books of Latvian hockey…

Yes, this season was also special for the club in that Elviss caught up and overtook Aigars Razgal, becoming the most productive hockey player in the Latvian championship of all time. Elviss is the soul of our team. It was thanks to him that the Mogo hockey club was established. And Elvis is also a vivid example for young people that at the age of 40 you can be one of the most productive players in the entire league.

For the third spring in a row, Mogo/RSU has found a little bit of skill, a little bit of skill, to score goals in overtime, in the bullpen, in the last seconds and win victories. What was the key to winning the fifth title?

Hockey is not just running on the ice and chasing the puck. It is a smart game. The work of coaches is a very important part of hockey. Choosing tactics, tuning the hockey players, and, of course, the team's ability to implement it. This year, all the stars were in the right places again, and we won the championship title. But underneath it all is hard and hard work. This was the fourth season in a row when Mogo/RSU and Zemgale/LBTU met in the final. It has also turned into a duel between the two head coaches – Ģirts Ankipāns versus Artis Ābolas. Both played in Riga in 2000, both won the Latvian championship title together. I believe that Ģirts and Artis have contributed a lot to the development of the Latvian hockey system.

It seems that Mother Time is going around the bend for Krišjānis Rēdlich, Gints Meijas, Kristaps Sotnieks. Do you continue to be surprised by their performance on the field?

No, I am not surprised. They are on our team because of their skill and attitude. These players are hardened and demonstrate what is expected of them. After all, together they have played in 26 world championships and 7 Olympic Games. Krišjānis is a living example for young hockey players. At his age, being in such athletic shape is incredible, Gints shows that you always have to fight to the end, and Kristaps is a great role model for all our young defensemen.