GDT: Group S • May 12 • Germany 2, Denmark 1

[Justinov]

Not today...but in 90's when money attracted some really high quality players.....they could easily have played in Denmark.

Most finns that hear Skriko played in Denmark first dont' really believe it.
After 9 years in NHL - mostly Vancouver (4 +30 goal seasons) and then 6 years in the danish league????!!!!!!!!: 249 games, 235 goals, 314 assits = 549 points........he must have enjoyed it
Probably best player ever in the Danish league, but tailed closely by Todd Bjørkstrand!

 

[BalticWarrior]

EDIT: Double post

Not today...but in 90's when money attracted some really high quality players.....they could easily have played in Denmark.

Well yeah,but i was thinking today. God i`m waiting for a day when latvian defence wont consist of pathetic failures and parodies of hockey like sotnieks,lavins and cibulskis, but of defenseman like Bartulis,kulda,krisjanis redlihs and guntis galvins.

 

[Mara]

Janis Sprukts was a star in the Finnish elite league and I bet guys like M.Redlihs, L.Darzins and most of the Dinamo Riga players would be stars here too. Latvia has a small population but with their passion they've got a chance to become a big hockey nation in the near future.

Finland used to suck at internatiol level in the 70's and the 80's and we were happy if we tied the powerhouses Canada, Sweden, Russia/USSR. Nowadays we wont be happy without a win. I see similar path with Latvia.

Wut. Sprukts was good, but he wasn't a star. His first stint in HPK was pretty good, but when he came back from NA to Lukko he was a disappointment, especially when considering how high hopes some had for him.

 

[Like Wall]

i don`t think they pretend they just have a unlucky period,thats all.

I heard this story last year. Then we lost to Slovenia in almost similar game we saw today. The president of LHF has to go. And some players have to take a break from NT. We need Vasiļjevs style coach, but Nolan should get another year, as few months are simply not enough. But still I was expecting more tactical approach from him. That psychological crap is simply not enough, if half of the team has no tactical vision. Since Vasiļjevs we haven't had a coach, that could utter a single word in Latvian. But do we have our own specialists? I think the language barrier is what causes many to misunderstand Nolan.

 

[Justinov]

I heard this story last year. Then we lost to Slovenia in almost similar game we saw today. The president of LHF has to go. And some players have to take a break from NT. We need Vasiļjevs style coach, but Nolan should get another year, as few months are simply not enough. But still I was expecting more tactical approach from him. That psychological crap is simply not enough, if half of the team has no tactical vision. Since Vasiļjevs we haven't had a coach, that could utter a single word in Latvian. But do we have our own specialists? I think the language barrier is what causes many to misunderstand Nolan.

Nolan needs a Latvian assistant-coach it seems!

 

[BalticWarrior]

Nolan needs a Latvian assistant-coach it seems!

He already has one-Abols

 

[Eidyia]

Wut. Sprukts was good, but he wasn't a star. His first stint in HPK was pretty good, but when he came back from NA to Lukko he was a disappointment, especially when considering how high hopes some had for him.

With HPK 18+10 = 28 in 35 games.

With Lukko 12+17 = 29 in 53 games.

You're right, calling him a star is a little too much.

 

[BalticWarrior]

I heard this story last year. Then we lost to Slovenia in almost similar game we saw today. The president of LHF has to go. And some players have to take a break from NT. We need Vasiļjevs style coach, but Nolan should get another year, as few months are simply not enough. But still I was expecting more tactical approach from him. That psychological crap is simply not enough, if half of the team has no tactical vision. Since Vasiļjevs we haven't had a coach, that could utter a single word in Latvian. But do we have our own specialists? I think the language barrier is what causes many to misunderstand Nolan.

Kirov retiring from LHF? theres a slim chance of that happening! he always brags how much he has done for our hockey,it`s getting quite pathetic

 

[Justinov]

So when Latvia once produced great defenders...was that because of the more disciplined (totalitarian) Sovjet system and now you are more like Denmark in primarily producing forwards???

 

[Eisen]

No wonder, he was a figure skater before he was hockey player.

I know, that's why sometimes now players hire figure skaters to give some lessons. It pays off.

 

[BalticWarrior]

So when Latvia once produced great defenders...was that because of the more disciplined (totalitarian) Sovjet system and now you are more like Denmark in primarily producing forwards???

When there was ussr every aspect-goalies,defenders,forwards were great. and no its not about primarily producing forwards,i think it`s matter of time when Latvia starts producing star-level defenders

 

[Justinov]

I know, that's why sometimes now players hire figure skaters to give some lessons. It pays off.

Maybe it's something for training practices. I many countries figure scating is looked down upon as "unmanly"...but if it gets part of systematic training it could get a pioneering country ahead!

 

[BalticWarrior]

Maybe it's something for training practices. I many countries figure scating is looked down upon as "unmanly"...but if it gets part of systematic training it could get a pioneering country ahead!

If it helps to improve players skill than who cares if it is looked down as unmanly,if it gets the job done-who cares

 

[Eisen]

Maybe it's something for training practices. I many countries figure scating is looked down upon as "unmanly"...but if it gets part of systematic training it could get a pioneering country ahead!

I'd take skill over rep 10 times out of 10.

 

[Like Wall]

I see a similar path with Latvia.

Nah, I see similar path with Norway. Then Denmark. As they have state supported sports programs. And this sport needs money, which Latvians currently are short of.

 

[BalticWarrior]

Nah, I see similar path with Norway. Then Denmark. As they have state supported sports programs. And this sport needs money, which Latvians currently are short of.

Economic situation is getting better here,so i wouldn`t say so.

 

[Like Wall]

Well yeah,but i was thinking today. God i`m waiting for a day when latvian defence wont consist of pathetic failures and parodies of hockey like sotnieks,lavins and cibulskis, but of defenseman like Bartulis,kulda,krisjanis redlihs and guntis galvins.

LaviņÅ¡ is a scape goat. It's all the negative vibes of all haters that force him to make mistakes.

 

[Justinov]

Nah, I see similar path with Norway. Then Denmark. As they have state supported sports programs. And this sport needs money, which Latvians currently are short of.

Danish hockey league was close to total collaps during the economic crisis and is still struggling a lot. Danish hockey doesn't survive on any state funding....it's run by hockey families. Thats why almost all the danish coaches, players are related.....Bjørkstand's, Nielsen's, Eller's, etc

 

[Eidyia]

Nah, I see similar path with Norway. Then Denmark. As they have state supported sports programs. And this sport needs money, which Latvians currently are short of.

There's no real interest in hockey in Norway and Denmark. In Latvia I believe hockey is the number one sport (correct me if I'm wrong). So with the small amount of talent they've got now and still being good I can only see good things for Latvian NT in the future.

 

[BalticWarrior]

LaviņÅ¡ is a scape goat. It's all the negative vibes of all haters that force him to make mistakes.

Hes not scape hes been playing like this since i can remmember,also sotnieks and cibulskis.

 

[BalticWarrior]

There's no real interest in hockey in Norway and Denmark. In Latvia I believe hockey is the number one sport (correct me if I'm wrong). So with the small amount of talent they've got now and still being good I can only see good things for Latvian NT in the future.

Yup its number one sport,also we`ve got first round draft pick Girgensons and ton of other new talents that im just to lazy to type right now

 

[Justinov]

Frits Nielsen -> sons Frans and Simon
Olaf Eller -> sons Lars and Mads
Todd Bjørkstrand -> sons Patrick and Oliver

and you could go on and on and on.....it's based on passion within families where everything is hockey from when the toddler can stand up on his scates in an often rundown parody of a icehockey rink.

 

[Like Wall]

Kirov retiring from LHF? theres a slim chance of that happening! he always brags how much he has done for our hockey,it`s getting quite pathetic

Not to mention he's an ass-hole. He would be a fantastic slave owner if these were different times. How come our federation is run by a person, who has never played hockey in his life. There are at least 10 people, who could replace him.

 

[BalticWarrior]

Not to mention he's an ass-hole. He would be a fantastic slave owner if these were different times. How come our federation is run by a person, who has never played hockey in his life. There are at least 10 people, who could replace him.

yup,that could also support it finnacially like-Irbe,ozolins.

 

[Justinov]

yup,that could also support it finnacially like-Irbe,ozolins.

It's always a problem when a federation gets a godfather figure that thinks he is gods gift to his country...(especially if he earns a lot of money doing it).