Merzlikins will join the Latvian national team this spring

🇱🇻 Hot news! The general manager of the Latvian national team, Rūdolfs Kalvītis, has received confirmation from our NHL goalkeeper Elvjas Merzlikin about joining the national team. Elvis will join the national team after the end of the NHL regular season. We are waiting for you in the selection, Elvi! pic.twitter.com/Uvu3jecoyV

— LV Hockey Federation (@lhf_lv) March 25, 2024

The “Blue Jackets” cannot reach the Stanley Cup anymore and the Columbus unit will play the last match of the regular season on April 16, hosting the Carolina “Hurricanes” at home.

Merzlikins last represented the Latvian national team in 2022 at the world championship, which took place in Finland. He guarded the goal of the Latvian national team in five games in the tournament, allowing an average of 4.26 pucks and saving 86.2% of the shots, while Artūrs Šilov was entrusted with the safety of the Latvian goal in the other matches.

This season, Merzlikin averaged 3.40 innings in 39 matches, saving 89.9% of shots, and helped the “Blue Jackets” to 12 successes.

The Latvian national team will play eight test matches in April, preparing for the world championship.

In subgroup B of the World Championship, Latvia, which won bronze medals last year, will meet France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and the USA.

The 2024 championship will take place in Prague and Ostrava from May 10 to 26.