IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
Group A • Dec. 26 • Latvia 0, Canada 16
View Poll Results: Who scores the first goal of the game?
Taylor Hall - Adam Henrique - Greg Nemisz
Brandon McMillan - Brayden Schenn - Jordan Eberle
Stefan Della Rovere - Patrice Cormier - Jordan Caron
Gabriel Bourque - Nazem Kadri - Brandon Kozun
Extras: Luke Adam
Alex Pietrangelo - Jared Cowen
Marco Scandella - Travis Hamonic
Ryan Ellis - Colten Teubert
Extras: Calvin de Haan
2 KALNINS Janis GK L 1.75 / 5'9'' 74 / 163 13 DEC 1991 Liepajas Metalurgs 25 DEC 2009
3 ILISKO Alberts D L 1.84 / 6'0'' 84 / 185 11 OCT 1990 Nynashamn IF 25 DEC 2009
4 KAUSS Gvido D L 1.86 / 6'1'' 85 / 187 14 MAR 1990 Dinamo Juniors Riga 25 DEC 2009
5 SEVCENKO Eriks D L 1.78 / 5'10'' 74 / 163 28 APR 1991 Dinamo Juniors Riga 25 DEC 2009
7 VILKOITS Raimonds F L 1.91 / 6'3'' 97 / 214 10 APR 1990 Dinamo Juniors Riga 25 DEC 2009
8 SMITS Janis D L 1.82 / 6'0'' 85 / 187 8 JUN 1990 Nynashamn IF 25 DEC 2009
9 UPITIS Juris F R 1.78 / 5'10'' 79 / 174 16 JUN 1991 Dinamo Juniors Riga 25 DEC 2009
10 INDRASIS Miks F L 1.90 / 6'3'' 72 / 159 30 SEP 1990 Dinamo Juniors Riga 25 DEC 2009
11 BUKARTS Roberts F R 1.82 / 6'0'' 82 / 181 27 JUN 1990 Dinamo Juniors Riga 25 DEC 2009
13 SKVORCOVS Gunars F L 1.86 / 6'1'' 84 / 185 13 JAN 1990 Liepajas Metalurgs 25 DEC 2009
15 KENINS Ronalds F L 1.84 / 6'0'' 84 / 185 28 FEB 1991 ZSC Lions Zurich 25 DEC 2009
16 MICKEVICS Arturs F R 1.80 / 5'11'' 71 / 157 2 JAN 1991 Liepajas Metalurgs 25 DEC 2009
19 MAZINS Roberts F R 1.83 / 6'0'' 86 / 190 5 DEC 1990 New England Stars 25 DEC 2009
20 LIPSBERGS Miks F L 1.88 / 6'2'' 73 / 161 9 JUN 1991 Ozolnieki Juniors 25 DEC 2009
21 CINKS Ronalds F L 1.83 / 6'0'' 80 / 176 11 MAR 1990 Dinamo Juniors Riga 25 DEC 2009
22 VIGNERS Rolands F L 1.87 / 6'2'' 77 / 170 7 MAR 1991 HC Asnieres 25 DEC 2009
24 GRITANS Rolands D L 1.86 / 6'1'' 79 / 174 19 JAN 1991 LSPA/Riga 25 DEC 2009
25 JAKOVLEVS Martins D L 1.84 / 6'0'' 78 / 172 4 MAY 1991 Dinamo Juniors Riga 25 DEC 2009
26 KALVITIS Karlis D L 1.93 / 6'4'' 82 / 181 25 MAR 1991 Shattuck St. Mary 25 DEC 2009
28 ULESCENKO Edgars F L 1.79 / 5'10'' 80 / 176 10 MAR 1990 HC Kladno 25 DEC 2009
29 FREIBERGS Ralfs D L 1.80 / 5'11'' 78 / 172 17 MAY 1991 Dinamo Juniors Riga 25 DEC 2009
30 ERMICS Raimonds GK L 1.82 / 6'0'' 85 / 187 21 JAN 1990 Boston Bulldogs 25 DEC 2009
The Latvians are what you would call "plucky". This should be a good warm up for Canada, maybe 6-0 or 7-0. I just hope nobody gets hurt (from either side), and we see a good, clean game.
Latvia DID beat the Russians in exhibition play a few days ago, I think they're going to be a little more competitive than 15-0...
There's a few names I recognize, including Ulescenko - nice kid, he came over to play major junior and was cut because he couldn't make a stacked junior team. Too bad because he really adapted fast, knew great english, and had some nifty talent with the puck.
I just did colour for one of the Latvia pre-tourney games, and they have a few players to look out for.
Miks Indrasis - Big kid. Scored a hattrick in the game I did.
Roberts Bukarts - Captain. Kinda small, but a very girtty guy with some good offensive skll.
Alberts Ilisko - D QB. Good offensive guy that did a great job on the PP and at keeping pucks in.
I'm very excited to see this team and how it stacks up against Canada. Should be fun to watch.
The Latvians are what you would call "plucky". This should be a good warm up for Canada, maybe 6-0 or 7-0. I just hope nobody gets hurt (from either side), and we see a good, clean game.
Ain't happening. Seeing how Canada played its warmup matches, it certainly won't be clean and it won't be good, because it won't be close at all. I am expecting 6 - 1 or 7 - 2 win from Canada. Something along the lines of 8 - 4 if they take an early lead and then get a bit sloppy at defending later in the match.
There's a few names I recognize, including Ulescenko - nice kid, he came over to play major junior and was cut because he couldn't make a stacked junior team. Too bad because he really adapted fast, knew great english, and had some nifty talent with the puck.
I had heard he got cut cause he was all offence, no D. Anyway, Bukarts was drafted in the Q, but he chose to stay in Europe. He stood out in Ottawa last year and has played in the KHL for a bit this season (as has Cinks, who's not nearly as potent). Like Renegade Sylings pointed out, Indrasis is a good bet for some points. He was one of the leading scorers in the Belarus Extraleague (top men's league, somewhere between the ECHL and AHL in terms of quality) last year as a seventeen year old, yet failed to make the U20 then. Vilkoits and Lipsbergs also looked decent at last years tournament. Although I'm hoping for an upset Latvia win, I'm gonna be realistic say 7-2 Canada, then again Canada scoring 10 or more is not out of the question if the goalies are having a bad day, they're Latvia's main weak point.
I had heard he got cut cause he was all offence, no D. Anyway, Bukarts was drafted in the Q, but he chose to stay in Europe. He stood out in Ottawa last year and has played in the KHL for a bit this season (as has Cinks, who's not nearly as potent). Like Renegade Sylings pointed out, Indrasis is a good bet for some points. He was one of the leading scorers in the Belarus Extraleague (top men's league, somewhere between the ECHL and AHL in terms of quality) last year as a seventeen year old, yet failed to make the U20 then. Vilkoits and Lipsbergs also looked decent at last years tournament. Although I'm hoping for an upset Latvia win, I'm gonna be realistic say 7-2 Canada, then again Canada scoring 10 or more is not out of the question if the goalies are having a bad day, they're Latvia's main weak point.
Cause I'm of Latvian descent and vice-president of the Latvian Hockey Fan Club in Canada. Anything less would be just wrong. Hell, even if I wasn't Latvian, I'm not really liking this team because of jacka$ses like Cormier and Della Rovere. They shouldn't be wearing the jersey. It's embarrassing.
Ain't happening. Seeing how Canada played its warmup matches, it certainly won't be clean and it won't be good, because it won't be close at all. I am expecting 6 - 1 or 7 - 2 win from Canada. Something along the lines of 8 - 4 if they take an early lead and then get a bit sloppy at defending later in the match.
It will be clean.. Just by seeing the exhibiton games doesn't mean it'll be a bad game..
Latvia isn't what Kazakhstan was last year. And it seems like they got to keep a good number of players from last year's team. Latvia is more familiar with the tournament than Kazahstan. They're not going to lose 15-0.
I had heard he got cut cause he was all offence, no D.
No, Ulescenko was okay defensively with the puck - he was just going to be a 4th line player on a Calgary Hitmen team that recorded 122 points last year and with such little playing time it was decided that he would go back rather than take the reduced role.
Despite some questionable play, I think that Canada will shape up today and win 8-1. If they can keep from running a direct line to the penalty box, this Canadian team can fire wave after wave of intensity.
Canada will win like 8-1 or 8-2.. Cormier and Della Rovere are really the only ones that get most of the PIMS.. They should play Luke Adam more i think... he hasn't been given a chance to do anything yet.
