Latvian national team ends the world championship in sixth place

On Thursday, May 28, the Latvian national ice hockey team conceded 0:2 to Norway in the quarter-final match of the world championship, concluding its participation in the final tournament.

In the first five minutes, there were no very dangerous moments at the goal of either Kristers Gudļevskis or Henriks Heukelann, but the initiative definitely belonged to the Latvian hockey players.

In the middle of the period, Eduards Tralmaks fought mightily in the corner of the opponent's zone, skated in front of the goal and passed the puck to the uncovered Oskars Cibuļskis, but the Latvian national team veteran's palm shot did not reach the goal.

Five minutes before the end of the third period, Latvia fell into a counterattack, as a result of which the Norwegians gained a numerical advantage, however, in this episode, Gudļevskis saved his national team. This was the first truly dangerous shot at his goal.

At the end of the third period, Sandis Vilmanis broke in front of the goal, was pushed by Heukelann and received a two-minute suspension for it. Latvia managed to withstand this disadvantage. That was the end of the first period. Excluding the time in the disadvantage, the advantage on the ice belonged to the Latvians. The Latvian national team also had the advantage in shots – 7:6.

The Latvian hockey players also started the second period with the initiative, having several good shots, however, Heukelann played precisely in the Norwegian goal. In the first five minutes of the third, the shot ratio was 4:0 in favor of Latvia.

The result of the match was finally revealed in the middle of the period, when after an unsuccessful game of our hockey players in front of their own goal, Tīnuss Luks Koblārs got into a great shooting position and took advantage of it. Almost immediately after the lost goal, another blow followed, as Roberts Mamčics earned a two-minute penalty. Although the opponents repeatedly threatened Gudļevskis' goal, the Latvians withstood the deficit.

After playing in the deficit, the Latvians were able to try their hand in the majority for the first time in the match, as the opposing captain Andreas Martinsen earned a two-minute penalty. Our hockey players failed to create anything dangerous in the first attempt with a one-man advantage. Both in these two minutes and throughout the game as a whole, the Norwegians' selfless defensive play, blocking Latvian shots, should be praised.

Almost immediately after coming out on the ice, Martinsen could go back to the penalty bench, who received a penalty for a similar violation as Vilmanis earned in the first period. However, the Latvian national team failed to even this opportunity to equalize the score. The final part of the second period was spent in unequal formations, as Kristaps Zīle also earned two later. This time, Norway was also unable to score a goal in the majority.

In the second period, the Latvian hockey players did not have a good fight in the face-off circles at all – 16:5 in favor of the Norwegians.

At the beginning of the third period, chaotic and jerky hockey was visible on the ice, which, of course, benefited Norway. Meanwhile, in the middle of the period, Tralmacks ran alone against Heukelan, but at the last moment the puck slipped off the blade of the Grand Rapids ″Griffins″ forward’s stick.

In the continuation of the third period, the Latvians repeatedly threatened the opponent’s fortress, but the Norwegian hockey players very diligently ″cleaned″ the front of their goal.

A minute and a half before the end of regular time, Harijs Vītoliņš decided to play with six field players, but this led to a goal for Norway.

There were no surprises among the most valuable players of the Latvian national team in this tournament – ​​Kristers Gudļevskis, Sandis Vilmanis and Rūdolfs Balcers. Oskars Cibulskis was awarded the best player of the match.

Norway – Latvia 2:0 (0:0, 1:0, 1:0)
Goals: 27:10 Koblars (Brandsegs-Nīgors, Hurods) 1:0, 59:44 Stēns (empty goal)
Shots: 24:34
Penalty minutes: 4:6
Goalkeepers: Henriks Heukelanns – Kristers Gudļevskis