WC: Latvia Roster Talk 2023
- Thread starter GX
- Start date
Czechboy
Cole is the real MVP!
- Apr 15, 2018
- 23,521
- 19,738
An almost entirely built D from the Extraliga!
I think this team will be a handful and expect a lot of close games in round robin.
SoundAndFury
Registered User
- May 28, 2012
- 11,514
- 5,437
Well, 5 guys who played in the KHL last year moved to the Extraliga this year. I truly wonder if other teams are facing a similar situation.
Let's play a prediction game: Top 3 Point Predictions for the tournament for Latvian players?
Feel free to add any reasoning also if needed.
Example:
1. Daugavins 5+4 = 9 pts
2. Dzierkals 3+3 = 6 pts
3. Abols 2+3 = 5 pts
Feel free to add any reasoning also if needed.
Example:
1. Daugavins 5+4 = 9 pts
2. Dzierkals 3+3 = 6 pts
3. Abols 2+3 = 5 pts
Abols and Daugavins have some surprising chemistry between them and they will be the core of the PP1, while Balcers easily has the best hands, so this is easy. I will make a bold prediction that Andersons will turn heads and will get a bunch of points as well.
It hasn't been decided yet, but likely Silovs.
Interestingly enough, Locmelis, Smirnovs and Bergmanis have not been included in the official roster yet. Both Smirnovs and Locmelis are Cs, and we only have 3Cs available for the Canada game.
Not sure what's the reasoning behind that. It doesn't really make any sense to me.
The lines in the last team practice were also very creative. I have not seen such an approach ever before, as we do not have a single shutdown line, all 4 lines are pretty even.
I actually like the lines, and I love that Andersons has been placed on the 1st line, which actually was an idea of mine I posted here earlier.
But I'm not sure if we're not playing some kind of hide and seek here to be honest.
I just don't think that coaching is that good in the team. Vitolinsh has gotten all his accolades from being an assistant coach, not a head coach, and every time he was a head coach, the results were questionable. He maybe is a good tactician, but his ability to manage and motivate properly (which were the functions of the head coach he was the partner of) just doesn't seem to be there.
ellja3
Registered User
I thought Dzerins was playing fairly well, did he get hurt?
Good to see Rubins come, that's definitely an upgrade
Good to see Rubins come, that's definitely an upgrade
Yup, he got injured. Dzerins was an experienced role player, but he's old and slow as molasses, which is not something that will fly against the Swiss specifically, so I don't view it as a loss.
Eye of Ra
Grandmaster General of the International boards
Sweden vs Latvia in qf. you guys are favorite. Playing at home, beat Switzerland, you guys been good this tournament. Sweden is not good
Eye of Ra
Grandmaster General of the International boards
and won over czechia aswell.
if we ask soundandfury he probaly thinks sweden is the favorites..
Canucks LB
My Favourite, Gone too soon, RIP Luc, We miss you
- Oct 12, 2008
- 77,117
- 30,322
He was our best goalie already last year but didn't get to play that much. This year he's just continuing. This is his level.
SoundAndFury
Registered User
- May 28, 2012
- 11,514
- 5,437
Agree, what an idiot that guyif we ask soundandfury he probaly thinks sweden is the favorites..
Eye of Ra
Grandmaster General of the International boards
im talking about youAgree, what an idiot that guy
this is almost Latvias best on best team. While its Swedens F-team, with latvia having home-ice and won over Swiss and Czechia. Why would Latvia not be considered the favorites? Even IIHF agree with me, having Latvia as nr 3 on their power ranknings.
