Does Latvian championship even matter to the federation?

(written by Ivars Zvirgzdiņš and originally published on Sportacentrs.com)

Shortly before the start of the 2012/13 season, Latvian hockey federation has published calendar for the upcoming season of the Latvian league. After a thorough exploration, myself being a mundane Latvian hockey follower, I was struck with dozens of questions and thoughts regarding the current state of Latvian hockey.

The first and most important question is in whose interests was the new calendar created. Much time isn’t needed to find an answer to it – already last year both Prizma Riga and Juniors Riga had problems with starting both in MHL B and Latvian league. Several of Juniors Riga games were rescheduled and there were others problems with Juniors’ participation in the league as well. For example, the federation seemed to not notice Juniors Riga decision of ignoring a few regular season games versus Lithuanian Energija Elektrenai, despite the fact that the club didn’t have MHL B games at that time. In the upcoming season Metalurgs Liepaja-2 will become already the third club that will play in both MHL B and Latvian league.

But let’s return our attention to the calendar of the next season! First of all, this year there will be eight teams participating in the league (there were 10 teams last year). This season SK LSPA/Riga has decided to drop out of the tournament and at this point also Energija Elektrenai isn’t among the competitors of the league.

Only eight teams participating in the tournament is nothing new or tragic, as the league has experienced already several such seasons in the past. The unfortunate part of the story begins, when we count the number of games each team will play – there are going to be a total of 112 regular seasons games, meaning only 28 matches for each of the teams. Also the playoff stage will start only with the semifinals (instead of six teams fighting for the title in the previous years). For a comparison, the newly established Latvian Enthusiast league (an amateur one) each team is planned to have 19 games and playoffs starting from the quarterfinal stage. Continuing our comparison, both EBEL and Belarusian league has more than 50 games in their regular season.

The motivation of decreasing the game pressure on the three teams participating in MHL B is apparent, but immediately another question arises – does the effort of growing our upcoming junior generation in the Russian hockey system leave the other Latvian players, who are already past their junior age, without a chance of playing a proper amount of games during the season? We have plenty of examples of players showing what they are really capable of when they have already reached 25 years or even older. There must be certain circumstances under which such players could develop, and one of them is a chance of playing a decent number of games. Could 28 games per season be considered a decent number or do we once again have to rely on Russia or some other European country on the development of Latvian players?

The number of Latvian hockey talents is far from being rich, thus we have to be able of acknowledging them and offering them a chance of proper development. Still, we also have to point out that a notable proportion of the younger players don’t even wait until they reach 20 years and become useless to the Latvian hockey scene – many players opt to play abroad starting from a very early age. Who can even estimate how many talented players Latvian hockey has lost in such a way?

Returning to the issue of the participation of the Lithuanian team Energija Elektrenai, we must conclude that there is no consensus reached yet, as clearly it is a clash of two different interest groups. Already prior the previous season team’s participation in the league wasn’t clear until the very last minute, and the situation seems to be same now as well. Although Latvian federation hasn’t confirmed Energija’s participation, in Lithuanian press the executive members of the team are telling about team’s intentions of renovating the Elektrenai ice rink and club’s readiness of competing in the Latvian league. It seems that, in the name of the three teams participating in MHL B, Latvian federation is ready to give up our years long cooperation with the Lithuanian team. It is quite odd, as Latvian federation expects a helpful hand from other countries, yet we are not willing to help the development of hockey in other countries.

To sum up, there is only one real conclusion – dear Mr. Lipmans (head of Latvian federation) and the owners of the Latvian teams, perhaps the time has come to cease imitating activity and start working on the development of the league? A development, whose aim would be clear to the Latvian hockey fans and most likely to the Latvian hockey federation as well.

Latvian U20 candidates announced

Latvian U20 national team head coach Leonids Beresnevs has announced those 30 players, who will take part in the pre-World Junior Championship training camp in Jelgava from December 6 until December 11.

The final roster of the team will be announced on December 10. Already the next day the team will leave for Babruysk, Belarus, where on December 13 will play already against British U20 national team.

List of the candidates:

G	Janis Auzins	1991	Zemgale	Latvia
G	Kristers Gudlevskis	1992	HK Riga	MHL
G	Janis Kalnins	1991	Metalurgs Liepaja-2	Latvia
D	Reinis Demiters	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Edgars Dikis	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Kristers Freibergs	1992	Metalurgs Liepaja	Belarus
D	Ralfs Freibergs	1991	Texas Tornado	NAHL
D	Martins Jakovlevs	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Karlis Kalvitis	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Martins Porejs	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Arturs Salija	1992	HK Riga	MHL
D	Eriks Sevcenko	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Raimonds Tubelis	1991	Metalurgs Liepaja-2	Latvia
F	Maris Bicevskis	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Elvijs Biezais	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Maris Dilevka	1992	Metalurgs Liepaja	Belarus
F	Vladislavs Dobrenkijs	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Maksims Firsovs	1991	SK LSPA/Riga	Latvia
F	Zemgus Girgensons	1994	Dubuque Fighting Saints	USHL
F	Girts Jansons	1991	Muik Hockey	Finland4
F	Egils Kalns	1991	Metalurgs Liepaja	Belarus
F	Ronalds Kenins	1991	GC Kusnacht Lions	NLB
F	Edgars Kurmis	1993	HK Riga	MHL
F	Arturs Mickevics	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Kristians Pelss	1992	Edmonton Oil Kings	WHL
F	Nils Semjonovs	1991	Aberdeen Wings	NAHL
F	Davis Straupe	1992	HK Riga	MHL
F	Juris Upitis	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Rolands Vigners	1991	Reims	French Division 1
F	Bruno Zabis	1991	Metalurgs Liepaja	Belarus

Latvian U20 finishes second at the Sino Cup

Yesterday the 2010 Sino Cup finished, as the last two games were held, despite the fact that Latvian U20 team had already played it’s four games by November 12. Latvian team has finished tournament in the second place, right after Belarussian team.

Latvian team started the tournament with an unconvincing 3:2 shootout win over the hosts – Danish U20 team. On the next day Latvians lost 0:3 to Belarussians, which will be the main contestant for the win at the 2011 World U18 Championships in Division 1, but then Latvians beat Finland 3:2 in the shootout – that wasn’t a huge upset, as the Finnish U20 first team is currently at the Four Nations Tournament in Prague. The last game will probably remain as the most memorable of this tournament – a 9:0 run-over the Austrian U20 team.

In the end, Belarussians had eight points and finished the tournament in first place, while Latvians, Danes and Finns had all seven points, and Latvians ended up in the second place only because of a better goal difference. Ronalds Kenins, who scored 6 (2+4) points, was the leading scorer of the whole tournament.

Latvian U20 results:

3:2 SO	Denmark	November 9
0:3	Belarus	November 10
3:2 SO	Finland	November 11
9:0	Austria	November 12

Latvian U20 statistics:

Player		GP	G	A	P	PIM	YOB	Team	League
F	Ronalds Kenins	4	2	4	6	2	1991	GC Kusnacht Lions	NLB
F	Maris Dilevka	4	3	2	5	4	1992	Metalurgs Liepaja-2	Latvia
F	Rolands Vigners	4	3	0	3	6	1991	Reims	French Division 1
F	Egils Kalns	4	2	0	2	2	1991	Metalurgs Liepaja	Belarus
F	Girts Jansons	4	1	1	2	0	1991	Muik Hockey	Finland4
F	Edgars Kurmis	4	1	1	2	0	1993	HK Riga	MHL
F	Maksims Firsovs	4	1	1	2	6	1991	SK LSPA/Riga	Latvia
D	Martins Porejs	4	0	2	2	20	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Martins Jakovlevs	4	0	2	2	4	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Maris Bicevskis	4	0	2	2	4	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Arturs Mickevics	4	0	2	2	6	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Eriks Sevcenko	4	1	0	1	0	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Elvijs Biezais	4	1	0	1	0	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Davis Straupe	4	0	1	1	0	1992	HK Riga	MHL
D	Kristers Freibergs	4	0	0	0	0	1992	HK Riga	MHL
D	Edgars Dikis	4	0	0	0	0	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Karlis Kalvitis	4	0	0	0	2	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Raimonds Upenieks	4	0	0	0	8	1992	HK Riga	MHL
D	Raimonds Tubelis	4	0	0	0	2	1991	Metalurgs Liepaja-2	Latvia
D	Reinis Demiters	4	0	0	0	0	1991	HK Riga	MHL

Latvian U20 roster announced

Today the Latvian U20 national team roster for the U20 Sino Cup in Rodovre, Denmark, which will begin on November 9 and during which Latvian team is going to face Austrian, Belarussian, Danish and Finnish U20 national teams, was announced.

It is the last preparatory tournament for the Latvian team, before the 2011 First division U20 Championship, which is going to take place in Babruysk, Belarus between December 9-13. The only aim for the Latvian team is to win their main rivals Belarussians and return to the Elite division for 2012.

Announced roster for the tournament:

G	Kristers Gudlevskis	1992	HK Riga	MHL
G	Janis Kalnins	1991	Metalurgs Liepaja-2	Latvia
D	Reinis Demiters	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Edgars Dikis	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Kristers Freibergs	1992	Metalurgs Liepaja	Belarus
D	Martins Jakovlevs	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Karlis Kalvitis	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Martins Porejs	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Eriks Sevcenko	1991	HK Riga	MHL
D	Raimonds Tubelis	1991	Metalurgs Liepaja-2	Latvia
F	Maris Bicevskis	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Elvijs Biezais	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Maris Dilevka	1992	Metalurgs Liepaja-2	Latvia
F	Maksims Firsovs	1991	SK LSPA/Riga	Latvia
F	Girts Jansons	1991	Muik Hockey	Finland4
F	Egils Kalns	1991	Metalurgs Liepaja	Belarus
F	Edgars Kurmis	1993	HK Riga	MHL
F	Ronalds Kenins	1991	GC Kusnacht Lions	NLB
F	Arturs Mickevics	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Davis Straupe	1992	HK Riga	MHL
F	Raimonds Upenieks	1992	HK Riga	MHL
F	Juris Upitis	1991	HK Riga	MHL
F	Rolands Vigners	1991	Reims	French Division 1

Let me just remind you that in September the sixth Sergei Zholtok Memorial Cup was held in Riga. Here you can take a look back at the team’s roster in September: U20 roster for the Zholtok Cup announced

The Major List: Latvian league roster applications

This article(let’s be modest, this list) reveals approximately 70% of all the players, who will step on the ice for a Latvian league game next season. Today a list of roster applications was published in Sporta Avize. However, HK Ogre and Lithuanian Orakulas Vilnius have not submitted applications as of yet.

HK Ozolnieki/Monarhs

The team has not added a single player to the roster, the teams will still consist of veteran Latvian players, who have played for Ozolnieki/Monarhs (Vilki Riga, HK NIK’s Brih Riga) for many, many years. Naturally, team also includes several younger players, like Kristaps Stigis or Aldis Pizans.

HK Ozolnieki/Monarhs roster:

G	Kristaps Stigis	1987
G	Sergejs Kuznecovs	1978
D	Aldis Pizans	1989
D	Aleksandrs Siskovics	1972
D	Andris Vegners	1979
D	Edgars Rozentals	1976
D	Janis Lukasevskis	1970
D	Mihails Bogdanovs	1976
D	Nikolajs Jakovlevs	1972
D	Vadims Solovjovs	1970
D	Vitalijs Goncaruks	1979
F	Artjoms Ogorodnikovs	1989
F	Eriks Bisenieks	1982
F	Janis Vegners	1977
F	Maris Dreilings	1970
F	Nikita Krilovs	1985
F	Nikolajs Jerofejevs	1986
F	Olegs Koreskovs	1984
F	Peteris Ostosovs	1972
F	Romans Glazkovs	1984
F	Sergejs Povecerovskis	1960
F	Vadims Romanovskis	1978
F	Viktors Lobacovs	1986
F	Vilnis Vabolis	1967
F	Vitalijs Gurevics	1972

Metalurgs Liepaja-2

Metalurgs farm club has only a couple of minor additions, but most of the new faces on the Metalurgs Liepaja-2 roster will come from the Metalurgs U18 team.

Metalurgs Liepaja-2 roster:

G	Janis Kalnins	1991
G	Nauris Grinvalds	1990
G	Vadims Miscuks	1993
D	Arturs Kuzmenkovs	1993
D	Edgars Siksna	1993
D	Gatis Bruders	1991
D	Reinis Demiters	1991
D	Romans Sevcenko	1991
D	Sandis Sostaks	1993
F	Bruno Zabis	1991
F	Daniel Bogdziul	1994
F	Davis Paipa	1991
F	Egils Kalns	1991
F	Pauls Hodzko	1993
F	Peteris Pujats	1990
F	Renars Kalinovskis	1993
F	Rodijs Razmuss	1990
F	Sergejs Tarabrins	1992
F	Valters Freijs	1994
?	Dmitrijs Labovskis	1993

DHK Latgale

DHK Latgale roster:

G	Arturas Kuzmicius	1990
G	Raivis Cimoska	1993
G	Ruslans Kurelass	1991
D	Andrejs Kondrovskis-Kudrjavskis	1993
D	Edgars Apelis	1989
D	Imants Lescovs	1994
D	Kalvis Ozols	1993
D	Sergejs Petuskovs	1991
D	Vadims Sinakovs	1992
D	Vladislavs Balakuns	1988
F	Aleksandrs Kercs	1967
F	Andrei Lukin	1989
F	Arnis Kusins	1991
F	Arturs Sevcenko	1994
F	Deniss Baskatovs	1993
F	Deniss Martjusovs	1984
F	Eduards Bullitis	1986
F	Egidius Bauba	1977
F	Ivans Kokins	1991
F	Jevgenijs Fjodorovs	1993
F	Kristians Drelings	1993
F	Leonards Rimjans	1994
F	Ralfs Barkevics	1993
F	Renats Vabiscevics	1990
F	Rihards Grigors	1992
F	Sandis Virkstenis	1991
F	Vitalijs Lescovs	1991
F	Vladislavs Lescovs	1993
?	Marks Zeldess	1993

Zemgale

Zemgale roster:

F	Andis Abolins	1986
?	Lauris Dzerins	?
D	Aigars Mironovics	1976
D	Hardijs Paradnieks	1987
F	Eriks Ozollapa	1987
D	Kriss Kupcus	1990
F	Henrijs Uzraugs	1990
D	Otomars Plinta	1990
D	Rihards Strauss	1993
F	Arturs Batraks	1990
G	Kristaps Kruze	1993
D	Kaspars Kragis	1992
D	Miks Komuls	1993
F	Janis Zarins	1993
F	Dairis Zarins	1992
G	Renars Kazanovs	1984
F	Arturs Abolins	1994
G	Janis Auzins	1991
F	Edgars Cuss	1992
F	Janis Sahno	1991

SK LSPA/Riga

SK LSPA/Riga roster:

G	Karlis Zakrevskis	1993
G	Ronalds Burnickis	1988
G	Silvestrs Kulins	1993
D	Andrejs Smirnovs	1992
D	Arvis Petunovs	1993
D	Dmitrijs Ankudinovs	1991
D	Maksims Krutjko	1993
D	Ojars Smaukstelis	1993
D	Viktors Sorins	1992
F	Armands Holms	1991
F	Dags Laucins	1992
F	Gints Leitis	1992
F	Ivans Dmitrijevs	1992
F	Janis Zarins	1991
F	Juris Ziemins	1993
F	Karlis Hirss	1992
F	Lauris Ziemins	1989
F	Livars Lans	1993
F	Maksims Firsovs	1991
F	Oto Everss	1992
F	Pauls Krumins	1993
F	Pavels Tribuncovs	1993
F	Rihards Kepitis	1992
F	Sandis Saulite	1993
F	Viktors Rutkovskis	1993
?	Rozenbergs	?
?	Zagars	?

Prizma Riga

Prizma Riga roster:

G	Janis Liepa	1993
G	Raivis Turks	1993
D	Ansis Brikainis	1993
D	Edvins Kolcins	1992
D	Freibergs	?
D	Nauris Buskevics	1993
D	Renars Zeltins	1994
D	Ricards Berzins	1992
D	Rinalds Audziss	1993
D	Vladislavs Dudins	1992
F	Aigars Pauce	1993
F	Artjoms Sutovs	1994
F	Daniels Riekstins	1994
F	Edgars Dzirkalis	1993
F	Edgars Kurmis	1993
F	Edgars Opulskis	1994
F	Eduards Zenins	1993
F	Filips Plostnieks	1994
F	Justas Steponaitis	1993
F	Kristaps Riekstins	1993
F	Mikus Hermanis	1993
F	Rihards Malinovskis	1990
?	Ancs	?
?	Brants	?
?	Mackevics	?
?	Mitjanovs	?
?	Savrinovics	?
?	Zarovs	?