Riga, Nov. 10, LETA. “Olimp” / “Venta 2002” hockey players were the most noticeable in the ranks of the “Deutschland Cup” Latvian national team last week, but there was a desire to test three more young hockey players in the tournament, who have not worn the national team shirt so far, Artis Ābols said in a conversation with LETA.
There were 27 players entered for the tournament – three goalkeepers, nine defenders and 15 forwards, but the head coach was assigned to Ābol. He was assisted by Herberts Vasiljevs and Edgars Masaļskis.
Even before the tournament, Ābols stated that one of the main goals is to provide hockey players with practice, as the team included eight hockey players who had not been on the field for at least six or seven months. The specialist revealed that not only this, but also other subordinate tasks have been achieved.
“The goals were very achievable from the very beginning,” explains Ābols. “The federation was looking to help hockey players without practice, as this goal has definitely been achieved. The second – only two games were guaranteed, but the task was to play three matches. Of course, in the end there was an extra bonus, the German team won and the cup won.”
The most experienced player in this tournament was 39-year-old Krišjānis Rēdlihs, who played his 150th game in Germany. Oskars Bārtulis, Artūrs Kulda and Mārtiņš Karsums, who had experience in the National Hockey League (NHL), were also included, but some other hockey players could not be tested due to Covid-19.
Ābols did not hide that the line-up was chosen together with the General Secretary of the Latvian Hockey Federation (LHF) Viesturs Koziols, as well as the national team manager Renārs Freibergs.
“A big consideration is what is happening around … Riga” Dinamo “hockey players dropped out immediately, also no hockey players were launched from foreign clubs, including Rodrigo [Ābols] from Örebro, because he has a game practice, “a specialist tells about the composition of the lineup.” We wanted to shoot two bunnies with one shot – we probably tested eight hockey players who had not played in the team before, but the result is also necessary, both youth. “
“Due to Covid-19, Gustav Ozolins, the defender of the Hockey School” Riga “and the striker Daniels Mūrnieks, could not be tested. It was also planned to include Raivis Ansons, who has played only one game, but who was recognized as the contact person of the Covid-19 patient.” reveals Apple.
In the tournament in Krefeld, almost three of the “Olimp” / “Venta 2002” strikers – Nikolajs Jeļisejevs, Emīls Ezītis and Gatis Sprukts – were the most noticeable in each game. Ābols pointed out that it is not easy to compare the skills of hockey players, because the Germans did not have playing practice either, but the most striking impression was left by Jelisejevs, who once had the opportunity to prove himself in the “Dinamo” team.
“Olimp’s trio was good, but it should be noted that by setting higher goals for himself, Yeliseev could achieve much more. Before the tournament, I had a separate conversation with him. Yeliseev is a masterful hockey player, but why is he not striving for anything more … Everyone is their own blacksmith, “emphasizes Ābols, adding that the attacker ‘s performance in the tournament was very solid.
“Yeliseev has something the coach can no longer teach, he is creative, technical, endowed with good skating and speed characteristics, as long as he chooses to use them himself. The simplest remains – to improve the game without a puck. In all three games he forced himself a little more than I’ve seen it so far, but everything stops in his desires, “says Apple.
Ābols did not hesitate to say that the hockey players of the “unemployed club” were not physically ready for the tournament, but Frank Razgals, who was in this team, was in good shape before. It was Razgals who became the hero of the tournament, as he scored two goals in the final match, including those who won in overtime.
“Frank showed his potential in the third game, although he has been sitting on the bench for the last three years. He and Renar Krastenberg were given the opportunity to play in the minority and in the majority. some hockey players were a little disappointed. “Unbelieving to many, we won Germany in the second meeting, but we expected more from some hockey players, both physically and for others.”
Tournaments of this type often serve as an opportunity for hockey players to get a new contract, but Ābols does not yet have information that would suggest that Razgals or any other hockey player who showed good performance would have found a new job.
The head coach Bob Hartley could not be with the national team together with the national team, but communication with him took place quite regularly. The Canadian specialist was informed about the training, the attitude of the players, and later Ābols gave his assessment of what he saw on the field.
Before going to the tournament, there was no shortage of critics who said that going to Germany in the conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic was insane, but Ābols pointed out that all this time he felt even safer than when he was in Latvia. The team was led everywhere by a specially assigned bus, free time was spent in the hotel rooms, face masks had to be worn regularly, and from November 4 to 9, the players performed a total of six Covid-19 tests.
“I hope we helped the German national team and also the federation with this tournament, because in the DEL league [spēcīgākais čempionāts Vācijas hokejā] nothing has started yet, although everyone wants to see hockey. It is clear that this tournament is very prestigious on a daily basis, and good teams play in it, so it would be an honor for the Latvian national team to participate. Maybe in the future it will give us a bonus and we will be invited again, “adds the head coach of” Zemgale “/ LLU unit.
According to the coach, it is also understandable that hockey players who demonstrated a commendable performance in Germany, are likely to have another opportunity to prove themselves in a red-white-red shirt.
The “Deutschland Cup” tournament went without Covid-19 positive cases, and all tests were negative for the Latvian national team hockey players, who returned to their homeland on Monday.
In the first game of the tournament, Latvia won the German U-23 team with 4: 2, but later conceded to Germany with 0: 2. Both teams met again in the final, where Latvia was superior with 3: 2 in overtime.
Composition of the Latvian men’s hockey team in the test tournament “Deutschland Cup”:
Goalkeepers – Artūrs Šilovs, Kārlis Beķeris-Brīvkalns (both – Hockey School “Rīga”), Rūdolfs Lazdiņš (“Olimp” / “Venta 2002”);
Guards – Artūrs Kulda, Artūrs Salija (both – without club), Ēriks Ševčenko, Harijs Brants (both – “Zemgale” / LLU), Kārlis Čukste, Oskars Bārtulis, Krišjānis Rēdlihs (all – “Mogo” / LSPA), Arvils Bergmanis ( “Olimp” / “Venta 2002”), Christopher Bindulis (Kreengfeld “Penguine”, Germany);
Forwarders – Vitalijs Pavlovs, Rihards Bukarts, Mārtiņš Karsums, Andris Džeriņš, Frank Razgals, Renārs Krastenbergs (all – without club), Gatis Sprukts, Emīls Ezītis, Nikolajs Jeļisejevs (all – “Olimp” / “Venta 2002”) Egils Kalns Freidenfelds, Kārlis Ozoliņš (all – “Liepāja”), Ralfs Jevdokimovs (“Zemgale” / LLU), Oskars Batņa (“Anglet”, France), Gunārs Skvorcovs (Beijing “Kuņluņ Red Star”, KHL).
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