Riga, Latvia – Mogo/RSU head coach Girts Ankipan anticipates a substantially more competitive Optibet Hockey League (OHL) season, forecasting increased challenges for all teams as the league expands with new contenders. The upcoming championship, which begins September 5, will feature a broadened field including clubs from Lithuania, Estonia, and Ukraine.
The 2024-2025 OHL season will see five Latvian teams - Mogo/RSU, Riga HS, Zemgale/LBTU, prizma, and Liepaja – vying for the Baltic Champion title alongside Lithuania’s Elektrenie’s “Energija” and Vilnius “Hockey Punks,” Estonia’s Tallinn “Panter,” and the Ukrainian debutants, Kijiva’s capitals. This influx of teams is expected to elevate the overall level of competition, moving away from predictable outcomes.
“No doubt that the appearance of Liepaja and Kijiva teams will only raise competition,” ankipan stated in an interview with a latvian newspaper. “I don’t want to predict who will play in the finals in the spring, but our and Jelgava’s shares are at least for the time being. The Tallinn club itself has drawn conclusions, so they will have a more experienced and better team.”
The season’s opening match on September 5 will pit last season’s finalists,Mogo/RSU,against Zemgale/LBTU.Subsequent games on September 6 include Prizma hosting Riga Hockey School and Liepaja facing Vilnius’s Hockey Punch.
Ankipan remained tight-lipped regarding his team’s lineup for the frist game, specifically the availability of players Gints Meija, Kristaps Sotnieks, and Krišjānis Riedlich, citing the rivalry with Zemgale/LBTU. He emphasized that Mogo/RSU is approaching each game strategically, without prioritizing opponents.
The OHL playoff winner will be crowned Baltic Champion, while the highest-placed teams from Latvia and lithuania will be recognized as national champions of their respective countries.
