The Latvian Hockey Team starts the World Championship with a game against France / Day

Subgroup A Match at Avicii Arena will begin at 9.20 pm Latvian time, broadcast live on LTV7.

Both teams will play their first match in the championship.

Slovenia with Canada at 1:20 pm in Stockholm today and Sweden with Austria at 5:20 pm, including the LTV7. In Herning, Group B will feature ducks in Kazakhstan and Norway, Germany and Hungary, as well as Denmark and Switzerland – these games will be available on the website « lsm.lv/hokey ».

Almost half (12 of the 25) French national team hockey players play in the domestic league, including one of the biggest stars in the national team, a veteran Sasha Tre. Many hockey players earn their salary in the strong Swiss Championship, as well as players from the rest of Europe’s leading leagues – Sweden, Finland, Germany and the Czech Republic.

The French team has the best forces, including the only Frenchman Alexander Texier, who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) this season, scoring 11 (6+5) points in the regular championship in the St. Louis Blues, while in the Stanley Cup in three games. We will also see Pierre-Eduar Belmar, Charles Bertran, who has spent ten seasons in the NHL, as well as brothers Kevin and Tim Boson. However, this season, this season is not one of the longtime national team leaders, Stephen Da Costa, as well as an important guard – Johann Ovitu, Floriana Shakishvili and Tom Tiri.

Latvians have played six times and won five wins with French hockey players since returning, including Captain Kaspar Daugavins in the last second of extra time last year.

Meanwhile, the last meeting with the French team was the Latvian team last September in Riga, when the home side won a convincing 5: 2 in a crucial match on the road sign for the 2026 Olympics. There are 18 players left in the French team.

This year, at least for the time being, the Latvian team has to go without NHL players. There were even six Latvian hockey players in the world’s strongest league this season, but goalkeeper Elvis Merzlikin from Columbus’ Blue Jackets, as well as attackers Zemgus Girgenson of Tampabey’s Lightning and Theodore Blauger of the Vakupuer, has been denied injuries and personal reasons. Uvis Jānis Balinskis with last season’s champion Florida Panthers is still fighting in the Stanley Cup, while Rodrigo Apple (Philadelphia Flyers) and Arthur Shilov (« Canucks ») have gone to the teams of teams to fight for the title of American Hockey League (AHL). Sandis Vilmanis continues to fight for the Calder Cup.

Harry Vitolins, head coach of the Latvian national team, has included five players who have not played in the World Championships so far – goalkeeper Marek Miten, guard Mika Tumanov and attackers Henri Ravinski, Gleb Prohorenkov and Philip Bunk. Not all of the debutants are likely to have the opportunity to go on the ice tournament game.

Compared to the previous year, one of the heroes of the 2023 championship, Christian Rubin, has returned to the line -up, but there are no longer Karl Chukste, who has concluded his career and Arvilla Bergman, who has failed.

More changes are in the ranks of the attackers, where this year’s injuries and personal reasons are not Mika Indras, Robert Buchart, Raivis Anson, Renara Krastenberg and still AHL. On the other hand, the two -time Swiss champion Rudolf Balcer is now in the lineup.

Latvian hockey players will play the second game of the World Cup tomorrow at 5:20 pm against Canada. The tournament will be on May 13 at 5:20 pm with a match with Slovenia, a day later at 9.20 pm with housewife Sweden, May 17, at 1:20 pm, will have to take the forces with the Finnish state unit, May 18, at 9.20 pm, with Slovakia and the final group game on May 20, at 13.20.

The second group in Herning will play in Denmark, Czech Republic, Germany, USA, Kazakhstan, Norway, Switzerland and Hungary.

It has already been reported that the tournament began on Friday with a favorite Swedish victory of 5-0 over the Slovaks, and the Finnish success 2: 1 over the Austrians in Group A, while in Group B last year’s final, the Czech Repore beat Switzerland by 5: 4, while the US defeated Denmark by 5: 0.

The 16 teams start in the tournament are divided into two groups, with eight teams each, which guarantees seven games for each team. The top four teams in each group will continue their battle for medals in the quarterfinals, but the weakest teams in both groups will leave the strongest division, and will be replaced by Britain and Italy next year.

Last year, the Czechs triumphed in the World Championships in their field, beating Switzerland by 2-0 in a crucial match, but Sweden won the bronze medals with a 4: 2 win over the Canadian national team. The Latvian national team ranked ninth, although he won four wins in the sub -group.

This year’s World Cup in Herning and the Swedish capital, Stockholm, will take place from 9 to 25 May. Group B games and two quarter -final matches will take place in Herning, while Stockholm will also host two quarter -final duties, semi -final games and medals.

The Latvian national team game in Stockholm has also gone to the LETA team – sports news reporter Aivars Andriksons and photographer Eddie Palens – to keep track of the events of the championship from the venue. The World Championship news can be found in the specially dedicated section « LETA.lv/themes/hokejs » and tweet » @LetasportsExtra « .

Latvian national team in the World Cup:

Goalkeepers – Marek Miten (« Spišska Nova Ves », Slovakia), Gustav Dāvis Grigals (Trenchina « Dukla », Slovakia), Krister Gudlevsky (Bremerhagen « Fischtown Pinguins », Germany);

Guards – Mick Tumanov (JiveSkiles Jyp, Finland), Kristaps Zīle (Litvinova « Verva », Czech Republic), Marcus Komul (Kladno « Rytiri », Czech Republic), Robert Mamchics, Janis Jak (both – Karlovi Var « Energie », Czech Republic, Czech Republic, Czech Republic Czech Republic), Oscar Cibulsky (Herning « Blue Fox », Denmark), Christian Rubin (Plzen « Škoda », Czech Republic);

Attackers – Kaspars Daugaviņš (no club), Harald Egle (Lipptovski Mikulaša « MHK 32 », Slovakia), Rihards Bukarts (Vītkovice « Rider », Czech Republic), Felix Gavars (St. Lorenz University, NCAA, NCAA) Prohorenkov (University of Niagara, NCAA), Martin Lavins (University of New Hampshire, NCAA), Tom Anderson (« La Chaux-de-Fonds », Switzerland), Martins Dzierkals (Shellfteo AIK AIK, Sweden), Oskars Batna ( Bunkis (Odens « Bulldogs », Denmark), Eduards Tralmaks (Kladno « Rytirzi », Czech Republic), Dan Ločmelis (Providens « Bruins », AHL), Rudolfs Balcers (Zurich « Lions », Switzerland);

France’s team composition:

Goalkeepers – Žillian Žunka (Mihalovce « Dukla », Czech Republic), Antoine Keler (« Lausanne », Switzerland), canteen Papijon (Bordeaux « Boxers »);

Guards – Jill Bosk (Iowa « Heartlanders », ECHL), Fabien Bourgeois, Joan Kulo (both – Marseille « Spartiates »), Pierre Krinon (Grenobles « Bruleurs de Loups »), Igo (Tampere « Tappara », Finland), Enzo Gebey ( » Lorca (Angers « Ducs »), Kevin Spinoci (Bordeaux « Boxers »);

Attackers – Pierre -Eduar Belmar, Tim Boson (both « Ajoie », Switzerland), Charles Bertran (« Ingolstad », Germany), Louis Budon (Nybro « Vikings », Sweden), Tim Boson (« Lausanne » (« Lausanne », Switzerland). Dair, Gijom Leker, Sasha Trej (all Grenobles « Bruleur de Loups »), Dylan Fabré (Pori « Assat », Finland), Jordan Peree (Hradeck Kraalova « Mountfield », Czech Republic, Czech Republic), Antoni Rešs (Ruana « Dragon », France) Alexander Texier (St. Louis « Blues », NHL).