WJC: 2023 Team Latvia Roster Talk

[Namejs]

The pesky Latvians surprised many back in August, and the core of that group (16 players) will be available for the 2023 WJC as well.

So we should be able to stay competitive, especially against Slovakia and the Swiss.

This Latvian squad is very deep for Latvian standards, but won't have any eye-popping NHL-ready prospects either.

Most of the kids are playing major junior hockey, with some having caps in SHL, NL, Mestis and the Swiss 2nd division.

The team has good puck-moving Ds in Fenenko, Hodass and others and even the potential 4th-liners (Rullers, Purmalis) are playing some half decent hockey in Mestis this season due to a Latvian team - Zemgale - entering the Finnish 2nd division in 22/23. It has a bunch of U20 prospects and the head coach is none other than the coach of the U20 national team.

So this Latvian side is going to have better chemistry than their opponents, they're going to know their systems well and will hit the ground running. And they're going to be well-coached and disciplined, as most Latvian teams are.

Despite an explosion of Latvian goalie prospects in recent years, most of the U20 ones have had a rough start to their season, with almost exclusively sub-.900 SVS%, so that seems the weakest link as of now.

Also, the Latvian U18 natiinal team is going to take part in the World Junior A Challenge, starting today. A couple of stand-out players from that tournament might just cut the WJC roster as well. So something to keep an eye on.

Click to read more...

 

[GX]

Camp roster:

1.	Patriks Bērziņš	V	2003	Danbury Jr.Hatricks (NAHL)
2.	Linards Lipskis	V	2003	Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL)
3.	Kārlis Mežsargs	V	2003	Tri-City Storm (USHL)
4.	Deivs Rolovs	V	2004	HK Zemgale/LLU
5.	Niks Feņenko	A	2004	Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
6.	Bogdans Hodass	A	2003	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
7.	Rihards Simanovičs	A	2003	Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL)
8.	Dario Mackevičs	A	2003	HK Mogo/LSPA
9.	Elvis Laškovs	A	2004	Nordic Hockey Academy (AUT20)
10.	Edgars Kazaks	A	2003	HK Zemgale/LLU
11.	Silvestrs Lazarenoks	A	2003	HK Zemgale/LLU
12.	Artjoms Kadņikovs	A	2003	Tampa Bay Juniors (USPHL)
13.	Gustavs Ozoliņš	A	2003	Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)
14.	Krišjānis Fugalis	A	2003	Brantford 99ers (OJHL)
15.	Vladimirs Zaicevs	A	2003	El Paso Rhinos (NAHL)
16.	Rodžers Bukarts	U	2004	ZSC Lions NL20 (Šveice)
17.	Emīls Veckaktiņš	U	2004	Lugano NL20 (Šveice)
18.	Roberts Cjunskis	U	2003	Lugano NL20 (Šveice)
19.	Dāvis Borozinskis	U	2004	Des Moines Buccaners (USHL)
20.	Martins Laviņš	U	2003	Cedar Rapids (USHL)
21.	Kristiāns Samītis	U	2003	Philadelphia Rebels (USHL)
22.	Ernests Krūms	U	2004	HK Mogo/LSPA
23.	Darels Dukurs	U	2003	SCL Tigers NL20 (NLA)
24.	Rainers Dārziņš	U	2004	Skelleftea AIK J20 (J20)
25.	Ģirts Silkalns	U	2003	Des Moines Buccaners (USHL)
26.	Artūrs Karaša	U	2003	HK Zemgale/LLU
27.	Kristaps Kristiņš	U	2003	El Paso Rhinos (NAHL)
28.	Rainers Rullers	U	2004	HK Zemgale/LLU
29.	Dans Ločmelis	U	2004	Lulea J20 (Zviedrija)
30.	Sandis Vilmanis	U	2004	Sarnia Sting (OHL)
31.	Klāvs Veinbergs	U	2003	Lincoln Stars (USHL)
32.	Pēteris Purmalis	U	2003	Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
33.	Anrī Ravinskis	U	2003	Blainville-Boisbrianda Armanda (QMJHL)

 

[BKarchitect]

Wow, 19 of the 33 players (58%) are North American based. There’s always been Latvians in recent years even in tier II NA junior leagues but I wonder if the disbanding of HK Riga in the MHL (and Dinamo having to shift back to domestic play) has contributed to an even higher rate of Latvian juniors looking to come to North America?

Assuming Zemgale has stepped in as the new de facto development program with their ability to offer Mestis play? What is the goal with Dinamo moving forward since they had been by far the dominant domestic influencer?

 

[Namejs]

Wow, 19 of the 33 players (58%) are North American based. There’s always been Latvians in recent years even in tier II NA junior leagues but I wonder if the disbanding of HK Riga in the MHL (and Dinamo having to shift back to domestic play) has contributed to an even higher rate of Latvian juniors looking to come to North America?

Assuming Zemgale has stepped in as the new de facto development program with their ability to offer Mestis play? What is the goal with Dinamo moving forward since they had been by far the dominant domestic influencer?

There's been a strong Latvian presence in the CHL/USHL for over a decade now, with more and more kids going to USHL/NAHL in attempts make NCAA D1 commitments or even just make NCAA III. And that has become a bit of a trend over the last few years for a number of reasons.

First, if you take a look at some of the biggest names in Latvian hockey and two of the most established Latvian NHL forwards, both of them have been trailblazers of sorts - Teddy Blueger spent 4 years in NCAA and Zemgus Girgensons was drafted straight out of USHL. And Rihards Marenis, who spent 4 years in NCAA III, has been a recent success story, he's made the Latvian national team and fought his way to the Swedish top tier. It clearly works.

Playing in the NCAA is also seen as a smart way of developing talent because it provides a competitive environment for U23 players (and is much better than staying in the CHL for a long time as an overager) and, from the parent side of things, it hedges their investment in case their kids don't pan out as pro hockey players. One of the biggest challenges for European-based players is to find a decent club at the age of 21-23, there's just not a lot of options in Europe. A lot of the kids end up in some backwater leagues in Austria or the Swedish 3rd division where their growth is just stunted and they get washed out.

Also, obviously, almost all Latvian kids speak English, so it just kind of makes sense. Currently, there are about 10 Latvian players in NCAA, next year that number will likely grow to ~15.

As for Dinamo Riga, it never was very good at developing talent and it's probably good news that it got disbanded. Geographically, the distance from Latvia to some random Russian cities is too large. A ridiculous amount of time was spent traveling and it just doesn't make sense. And Dinamo Riga no longer exists, the team playing in the Latvian domestic league is just a shell.

Zemgale entered Mestis with the idea that it's going to be a U23 team, and a basecamp for young Latvian players, a place for developing their skills or jumpstarting their careers if they're a little older. It's kind of a safety net for younger players who ended up in a rut in, say, CHL or NAHL, their North American careers maybe didn't pan out quite the way they expected, and they decided to return back home and continue playing hockey. So that is one of the places they can always return to and then maybe move to a better European system or North America in a couple of years.

 

[BKarchitect]

There's been a strong Latvian presence in the CHL/USHL for over a decade now, with more and more kids going to USHL/NAHL in attempts make NCAA D1 commitments or even just make NCAA III. And that has become a bit of a trend over the last few years for a number of reasons.

First, if you take a look at some of the biggest names in Latvian hockey and two of the most established Latvian NHL forwards, both of them have been trailblazers of sorts - Teddy Blueger spent 4 years in NCAA and Zemgus Girgensons was drafted straight out of USHL. And Rihards Marenis, who spent 4 years in NCAA III, has been a recent success story, he's made the Latvian national team and fought his way to the Swedish top tier. It clearly works.

Playing in the NCAA is also seen as a smart way of developing talent because it provides a competitive environment for U23 players (and is much better than staying in the CHL for a long time as an overager) and, from the parent side of things, it hedges their investment in case their kids don't pan out as pro hockey players. One of the biggest challenges for European-based players is to find a decent club at the age of 21-23, there's just not a lot of options in Europe. A lot of the kids end up in some backwater leagues in Austria or the Swedish 3rd division where their growth is just stunted and they get washed out.

Also, obviously, almost all Latvian kids speak English, so it just kind of makes sense. Currently, there are about 10 Latvian players in NCAA, next year that number will likely grow to ~15.

As for Dinamo Riga, it never was very good at developing talent and it's probably good news that it got disbanded. Geographically, the distance from Latvia to some random Russian cities is too large. A ridiculous amount of time was spent traveling and it just doesn't make sense. And Dinamo Riga no longer exists, the team playing in the Latvian domestic league is just a shell.

Zemgale entered Mestis with the idea that it's going to be a U23 team, and a basecamp for young Latvian players, a place for developing their skills or jumpstarting their careers if they're a little older. It's kind of a safety net for younger players who ended up in a rut in, say, CHL or NAHL, their North American careers maybe didn't pan out quite the way they expected, and they decided to return back home and continue playing hockey. So that is one of the places they can always return to and then maybe move to a better European system or North America in a couple of years.

Cool thanks for the in-depth explanation!

 

[Czechboy]

The pesky Latvians surprised many back in August, and the core of that group (16 players) will be available for the 2023 WJC as well.

So we should be able to stay competitive, especially against Slovakia and the Swiss.

This Latvian squad is very deep for Latvian standards, but won't have any eye-popping NHL-ready prospects either.

Most of the kids are playing major junior hockey, with some having caps in SHL, NL, Mestis and the Swiss 2nd division.

The team has good puck-moving Ds in Fenenko, Hodass and others and even the potential 4th-liners (Rullers, Purmalis) are playing some half decent hockey in Mestis this season due to a Latvian team - Zemgale - entering the Finnish 2nd division in 22/23. It has a bunch of U20 prospects and the head coach is none other than the coach of the U20 national team.

So this Latvian side is going to have better chemistry than their opponents, they're going to know their systems well and will hit the ground running. And they're going to be well-coached and disciplined, as most Latvian teams are.

Despite an explosion of Latvian goalie prospects in recent years, most of the U20 ones have had a rough start to their season, with almost exclusively sub-.900 SVS%, so that seems the weakest link as of now.

Also, the Latvian U18 natiinal team is going to take part in the World Junior A Challenge, starting today. A couple of stand-out players from that tournament might just cut the WJC roster as well. So something to keep an eye on.

Shame you didn't get the Czechs again... you anhilated us this summer.

 

[GX]

The 26-man roster making the trip to the tournament. Latvia has two exhibition games - on 20th vs Czechs and on 22nd vs Germans. Final roster likely to be announced after them.

Pozīcija	Spēlētājs	Dzimšanas gads	Klubs
Vārtsargs	Patriks Bērziņš	2003	Danbury Jr. Hatricks (NAHL)
	Linards Lipskis	2003	Bismarck Bobcats (NAHL)
	Kārlis Mežsargs	2003	Tri-City Storm (USHL
Aizsargs	Niks Feņenko	2004	Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
	Bogdans Hodass	2003	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
	Rihards Simanovičs	2003	Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL)
	Dario Mackevičs	2003	Mogo/LSPA
	Elvis Laškovs	2004	Nordic Hockey Academy (Austrija)
	Edgars Kazaks	2003	Zemgale/LLU
	Silvestrs Lazarenoks	2003	Zemgale/LLU
	Gustavs Ozoliņš	2003	Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)
Uzbrucējs	Rodžers Bukarts	2004	ZSC Lions NL20 (Šveice)
	Emīls Veckaktiņš	2004	Lugano NL20 (Šveice)
	Roberts Cjunskis	2003	Lugano NL20 (Šveice)
	Dāvis Borozinskis	2004	Des Moines Buccaners (USHL)
	Martins Laviņš	2003	Cedar Rapids (USHL)
	Kristiāns Samītis	2003	Philadelphia Rebels (USHL)
	Darels Dukurs	2003	SCL Tigers NL20 (Šveice)
	Rainers Dārziņš	2004	Skelleftea AIK J20 (Zviedrija)
	Ģirts Silkalns	2003	Des Moines Buccaners (USHL)
	Rainers Rullers	2004	Zemgale/LLU
	Dans Ločmelis	2004	Lulea J20 (Zviedrija)
	Sandis Vilmanis	2004	Sarnia Sting (OHL)
	Klāvs Veinbergs	2003	Lincoln Stars (USHL)
	Pēteris Purmalis	2003	Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
	Anrī Ravinskis	2003	Blainville-Boisbrianda Armanda (QMJHL)

 

[GX]

Lines that were practiced while the team was still in RIga:

Vilmanis - Veinbergs - Dukurs
Darzins - Locmelis - Lavins
Veckaktins - Bukarts - Purmalis
Cjunskis - Rullers - Silkalns
Borozinskis - Samitis - Ravinskis

Hodass - Ozolins
Simanovics - Fenenko
Mackevics - Laskovs
Lazarenoks - kazaks

 

[cmcneil02]

Latvia looked excellent through two periods in Halifax against Czechia. Shots were pretty even.

They completely fell apart in the third not sure what happened. They certainly know how to move the puck around, speed and physicality is a factor they lack. Which isn’t surprising with most of the roster coming out of USHL & NAHL. Definitely have some smart individuals on the team and can definitely win a game in Group B.

 

[Namejs]

Latvia looked excellent through two periods in Halifax against Czechia. Shots were pretty even.

They completely fell apart in the third not sure what happened. They certainly know how to move the puck around, speed and physicality is a factor they lack. Which isn’t surprising with most of the roster coming out of USHL & NAHL. Definitely have some smart individuals on the team and can definitely win a game in Group B.

That sounds about right and as expected.

We had a goalie change in the 3rd period so seeing 3 goals being scored on us in a few minutes really makes me think the 2nd goalie had a rough outing, but it's obviously impossible to tell not having seen the game.

I think there were also some issues with the equipment being delayed in some of the transfer flights, so I'm not sure if they were even playing with their own sticks.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Anyone knows what's the plan with Berzins? Judging by both the previous tournament and their play back in Latvia, he would seem like the best goalie on the roster. Not to mention far and away best stats this season. Are they gonna start him against Germany and just gave Lipskis sort of a courtesy period?

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I like this teams chances to stay in the top division.

 

[Namejs]

Anyone knows what's the plan with Berzins? Judging by both the previous tournament and their play back in Latvia, he would seem like the best goalie on the roster. Not to mention far and away best stats this season. Are they gonna start him against Germany and just gave Lipskis sort of a courtesy period?

None of the three goalies have played enough games to really put a lot of value in their stat lines, the sample size is very small.

I think their showing in practice and in the exhibition games and how well conditioned and confident they look to the coaches is going to be more important.

Any of the three can play a solid game, though.

They might take a look at Mezsargs vs. Germany or Berzins/Mezsargs.

 

[SoundAndFury]

I like this teams chances to stay in the top division.

Historically, Austria is a D1A nation that didn't get sent back down immediately simply because it was impossible to do so. Considering this, their current roster and their previous track record in the WJC (with more talented rosters too), I'd say it would take a pretty crazy person to like their chances against this Latvian team, if the tournament comes to that.

None of the three goalies have played enough games to really put a lot of value in their stat lines, the sample size is very small.

I think their showing in practice and in the exhibition games and how well conditioned and confident they look to the coaches is going to be more important.

Any of the three can play a solid game, though.

They might take a look at Mezsargs vs. Germany or Berzins/Mezsargs.

I mean sure but those are the same coaches that picked him over 2 other guys in the summer and there are no signs why this wouldn't be the case now. I just asked if maybe they said something concrete about the situation.

 

[Namejs]

The last kid not to make the cut is Davis Borozinskis, which I guess just shows the depth of this group of forwards.

Borozinskis recorded 4 points in his last 5 USHL games, will be playing in NCAA next season and can easily become a good pro hockey player in the future.

I guess the coach wanted to have more size and physicality in the bottom 6. And, if we're talking about size, this Latvian team is one of the biggest in the tournament.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

I like this teams chances to stay in the top division.

That would be awesome.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Anyone knows what's the plan with Berzins?

So yeah, going back to this, looks like he is going to play every game that matters.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Sadly the group played out in a way that after two games chances at QF are already rather minimal. In hindsight, a regulation win over Switzerland was a must.

On the bright side, Austria is as bad as advertised so hard to imagine them causing too much trouble in the relegation round.

 

[Namejs]

Sadly the group played out in a way that after two games chances at QF are already rather minimal. In hindsight, a regulation win over Switzerland was a must.

On the bright side, Austria is as bad as advertised so hard to imagine them causing too much trouble in the relegation round.

Minimal? Our chances are almost the same as before the start of the group stage. Beating Switzerland even in OT would have made it a lot easier, though, sure.

But as long as we beat Slovakia, we're staying alive. And if we do beat them in regulation, we're likely going to be in reversed roles and waiting for a Swiss win over them in the last round.

That is, if we don't beat Finland today. Which is possible.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Minimal? Our chances are almost the same as before the start of the group stage.

With all due respect, what are you smoking??

Switzerland is objectively 4th team in the group and now they not only have head-to-head over Latvia, they are also 3 points ahead already after receiving the gift from Finland. Slovakia also has 3 points already AND they have 3 points to share amongst themselves in a head-to-head game.

Not only regulation win over Slovaks is the only result keeping QF hopes alive, but even that doesn't guarantee anything at all.

The dream scenario would have been a situation where one OT win is enough, which is likely how Group A is going to play out - OT win over Austria would be enough for the Germans. That's what every sane person would have hoped for "before the start of the group stage". In this group, however, even 4 points, unlikely as they are, have like a 50% chance of not being enough as roster-wise, Slovaks are clear favorites over the Swiss.

 

[Namejs]

With all due respect, what are you smoking??

Switzerland is objectively 4th team in the group and now they not only have head-to-head over Latvia, they are also 3 points ahead already after receiving the gift from Finland. Slovakia also has 3 points already AND they have 3 points to share amongst themselves in a head-to-head game.

Not only regulation win over Slovaks is the only result keeping QF hopes alive, but even that doesn't guarantee anything at all.

The dream scenario would have been a situation where one OT win would be enough, which is likely how Group A is going to play out - OT win over Austria would be enough for the Germans. In this group, even 4 points, unlikely as they are, have 50% chance of not being enough as roster-wise, Slovaks are clear favorites over the Swiss.

You're a whiney little fella, aren't you.

What I'm smoking is common sense and logic. It's basic probability theory.

If you look up the odds, Switzerland actually has a >50% implied probability of beating Slovakia in regulation.

Let's just round it down to 50%.

Assuming we beat Slovakia in regulation, which was a commonly assumed prerequisite before the group stage, our chances to qualify after beating Slovakia in regulation are 50%, even if we lose 3 points to Finland (80-85% implied probability).

If we include the implied probabilities for the Latvia-Slovakia match-up, we have about 12,5% chances of qualifying if we lose to Finland in regulation.

If we do get a point (15-20%) vs. Finland, a win over Slovakia in OT (35%) is going to be sufficient as well, which improves our chances to 18,6%.

Hope this helps. 18,6% is realistic enough.

Oh, and all the implied probabilities are taken straight out of the aggregated average odds on these games from all the main bookmakers, i.e., the market forces.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Just to reiterate to people who maybe didn't look into the standings too much, there are basically 2 ways Latvia can get into the QFs:

The less likely one requires to:

1) take the points away from Finland​

2) win against Slovaks in whichever way​

3) hope Slovakia - Switzerland game doesn't end in a favorable OT score for both of those teams (Slovak OT win)​

​

The more likely one requires to:

1) win against Slovakia in regulation​

2) hope the Slovaks don't win against Switzerland in whichever way​

​

I don't know, all these conditions, none of which are likely to happen on their own, nevermind the combination of those, don't sound like "almost the same as before the start of the group stage".

​

​

 

[SoundAndFury]

Oh, and all the implied probabilities are taken straight out of an aggregated average odds on these games from all the main bookmakers, i.e., the market forces.

So you are just going to ignore the fact that bookmakers are largely clueless when it comes to generating WJC odds as they rely mostly on past results in the tournament where the level of nominally the same team (Slovakia U20, for example) varies massively.

Simple yes or no question for you: is Switzerland the favorite to win the game against Slovakia? "Bookmakerism" aside, put the whole little hockey knowledge that you have and answer me.

Also, I love how 4 points likely not being enough to qualify and beating Slovakia in regulation is almost the same as what "was a commonly assumed prerequisite before the group stage". Give me a break. Everyone understood that just as big of a prerequisite was the condition that other "bad" teams do just as badly against the big boys. Which clearly hasn't happened unless the kids pull out the rabbit out of the hat today.

By the way, I'm eagerly waiting for your comments in the spring about how "elite KHL defenseman" Jaks is actually trailing Zile in point production while playing for the same team.

 

[SoundAndFury]

I didn't mean to go on a tangent here but you aren't talking to idiots here. These generic, 0-substance statements like "any of the three can play a solid game" or "almost the same as before the start of the group stage" when we are addressing a concrete situation are just useless and unnecessary.

In the first case, everyone and their mom understood Berzins should be a starter which he very obviously is to the point where other goalies are yet to play in the competition. In the other case, most people hoped/assumed that one regulation win is going to be enough for QF when in reality the situation played out so even 4 points don't guarantee anything.

You blowing smoke all over it is just redundant to any productive discussion.

 

[kudla]

@SoundAndFury just casually destroying the dreams of hfboards posters again