Latvia men's national ice hockey team

Latvia
First international

Association	Latvian Ice Hockey Federation
Head coach	Aleksandrs Beļavskis
Assistants	Juris Klodans Kārlis Zirnis
Captain	Kaspars Daugaviņš
Most games	Rodrigo Laviņš (230)
Top scorer	Leonīds Tambijevs (66)
Most points	Leonīds Tambijevs (150)
Home stadium	Arena Riga
IIHF code	LAT
IIHF ranking	9 1
Highest IIHF ranking	9 (first in 2005)
Lowest IIHF ranking	12 (first in 2010)
Team colors

Latvia 3–0 Lithuania (Riga, Latvia; 27 February 1932)^[1]
Biggest win
Latvia 32–0 Israel (Bled, Slovenia; 15 March 1993)^[1]
Biggest defeat
Canada 14–0 Latvia (Davos, Switzerland; 20 January 1935)^[1]
IIHF World Championships
Appearances	25 (first in 1933)
Best result	7th (1997, 2004, 2009)
IIHF European Championships
Appearances	1
Best result	8th (1932)
Olympics
Appearances	5 (first in 1936)
International record (W–L–T)
189–153–35

The Latvian men's national ice hockey team represents Latvia in international ice hockey. The team is currently ranked 9th in the world by IIHF as of 2014. The team is controlled by the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation. Their best ever finish at the World Championships was 7th place in 1997, 2004 and 2009. In 2013 World Championship team finished 11th. Latvia reached quarterfinals at the 2014 Winter Olympics losing 1–2 to Canada. Latvia has 4,271 players (0.21% of its population).

Overview

Rank	Olympics	World Championships	European Championships
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th		1997, 2004, 2009
8th	2014	2000	1932
9th	2002	1998, 2003, 2005
10th		1933, 1938, 1939, 2006, 2012
11th		1999, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014
12th	2006, 2010
13th	1936	1935, 1996 (1.B)↑, 2001, 2007, 2011
14th		1994 (2.B), 1995 (2.B)
15th
16th
↑: promoted, ↓: relegated, (3.B): (rank.pool)

Tournament record

Olympic Games

1936 – Finished tied in 13th place
2002 – Finished in 9th place
2006 – Finished in 12th place
2010 – Finished in 12th place
2014 – Finished in 8th place

World Championship

1933 – Finished in 10th place
1935 – Finished in 13th place
1938 – Finished tied in 10th place
1939 – Finished in 10th place
1941–1992 – Did not participate (Part of USSR)
1993 – Finished in the 21st place (Won "Pool C")
1994 – Finished in the 14th place (2nd in "Pool B")
1995 – Finished in the 14th place (2nd in "Pool B")
1996 – Finished in the 13th place (Won "Pool B")
1997 – Finished in the 7th place
1998 – Finished in the 9th place
1999 – Finished in the 11th place
2000 – Finished in the 8th place
2001 – Finished in the 13th place
2002 – Finished in the 11th place
2003 – Finished in the 9th place
2004 – Finished in the 7th place
2005 – Finished in the 9th place
2006 – Finished in the 10th place
2007 – Finished in the 13th place
2008 – Finished in the 11th place
2009 – Finished in the 7th place
2010 – Finished in the 11th place
2011 – Finished in the 13th place
2012 – Finished in the 10th place
2013 – Finished in the 11th place
2014 – Finished in the 11th place
2015 –

European Championship

1932 – Finished in 8th place

Team

2015 World Championship roster

For more details on this topic, see 2015 IIHF World Championship rosters § Latvia.

The following is the Latvian roster for the 2015 IIHF World Championship.^[2] ^[3]

Skaters

Number	Position	Player	Club	League
3	D	Širokovs, MaksimsMaksims Širokovs	Red Ice	NLB
5	F	Sprukts, JānisJānis Sprukts – A	Fribourg-Gottéron	NLA
9	D	Rēdlihs, KrišjānisKrišjānis Rēdlihs	Dinamo Riga	KHL
10	F	Dārziņš, LaurisLauris Dārziņš – A	Dinamo Riga	KHL
11	D	Sotnieks, KristapsKristaps Sotnieks	Dinamo Riga	KHL
13	D	Galviņš, GuntisGuntis Galviņš	Bolzano	Erste Bank
16	F	Daugaviņš, KasparsKaspars Daugaviņš – C	Dynamo Moscow	KHL
17	F	Saulietis, KasparsKaspars Saulietis	Dinamo Riga	KHL
18	F	Ābols, RodrigoRodrigo Ābols	HK Rīga	MHL
21	F	Bērziņš, ArmandsArmands Bērziņš	Pustertal-Val Pusteria	Serie A
22	D	Jass, MārisMāris Jass	Orli Znojmo	Erste Bank
23	D	Jerofejevs, AleksandrsAleksandrs Jerofejevs	Dinamo Riga	KHL
24	F	Rēdlihs, MiķelisMiķelis Rēdlihs	Dinamo Riga	KHL
25	F	Džeriņš, AndrisAndris Džeriņš	Dinamo Riga	KHL
44	D	Cibuļskis, OskarsOskars Cibuļskis	Dinamo Riga	KHL
47	F	Cipulis, MārtiņšMārtiņš Cipulis	Dinamo Riga	KHL
71	F	Bukarts, RobertsRoberts Bukarts	Dinamo Riga	KHL
73	F	Skvorcovs , GunārsGunārs Skvorcovs	Dinamo Riga	KHL
90	F	Jass, KobaKoba Jass	Bílí Tygři Liberec	Czech Extraliga
	D	Demiters, RenārsRenārs Demiters	Astana	Kazakhstan
	F	Indrašis, MiksMiks Indrašis	Dinamo Riga	KHL
	F	Bajaruns, LaurisLauris Bajaruns	Rungsted Ishockey	Denmark
	F	Jevpalovs , ŅikitaŅikita Jevpalovs	Armada	QMJHL

Goaltenders

Number	Player	Club	League
31	Masaļskis, EdgarsEdgars Masaļskis	Ambri-Piotta	NLA
33	Muštukovs, ErvīnsErvīns Muštukovs	Aalborg	Denmark
	Jānis Kalniņš	Acélbikák	MOL

2014 Olympics roster

The following is the Latvian roster in the men's ice hockey tournament of the 2014 Winter Olympics.^[4]^[5]

No.	Pos.	Name	Height	Weight	Birthdate	Birthplace	2013–14 team
1	G	Muštukovs, ErvīnsErvīns Muštukovs	184 cm (6 ft 0 in)	700185000000000000085 kg (187 lb)	01984-04-07-00007 April 1984	Rīga	EfB Ishockey (DEN)
3	F	Stals !Juris Štāls	191 cm (6 ft 3 in)	700194000000000000094 kg (207 lb)	01982-04-08-00008 April 1982	Rīga	HK Poprad (SVK)
5	F	Sprukts, JānisJānis Sprukts	190 cm (6 ft 3 in)	7002102000000000000102 kg (225 lb)	01982-01-31-000031 January 1982	Rīga	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
6	D	Rekis !Arvīds Reķis	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)	700190000000000000090 kg (200 lb)	01979-01-01-00001 January 1979	Jūrmala	Dinamo Riga (KHL)
8	D	Ozoliņš, SandisSandis Ozoliņš – C	190 cm (6 ft 3 in)	700197000000000000097 kg (214 lb)	01972-08-03-00003 August 1972	Sigulda	Dinamo Riga (KHL)
9	D	Redlihs, K !Krišjānis Rēdlihs	189 cm (6 ft 2 in)	700193000000000000093 kg (205 lb)	01981-01-15-000015 January 1981	Rīga	Dinamo Riga (KHL)
10	F	Darzins !Lauris Dārziņš – A	191 cm (6 ft 3 in)	700191000000000000091 kg (201 lb)	01985-01-28-000028 January 1985	Rīga	Dinamo Riga (KHL)
11	D	Sotnieks, KristapsKristaps Sotnieks	184 cm (6 ft 0 in)	700187000000000000087 kg (192 lb)	01987-01-29-000029 January 1987	Rīga	Dinamo Riga (KHL)
12	F	Vasiļjevs, HerbertsHerberts Vasiļjevs	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)	700184000000000000084 kg (185 lb)	01976-05-23-000023 May 1976	Rīga	Krefeld Pinguine (DEL)
15	F	Karsums, MārtiņšMārtiņš Karsums	177 cm (5 ft 10 in)	700188000000000000088 kg (194 lb)	01986-02-26-000026 February 1986	Rīga	Dynamo Moscow (KHL)
16	F	Daugaviņš, KasparsKaspars Daugaviņš	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)	700193000000000000093 kg (205 lb)	01988-05-18-000018 May 1988	Rīga	HC Geneve-Servette (NLA)
21	F	Bērziņš, ArmandsArmands Bērziņš	192 cm (6 ft 4 in)	700197000000000000097 kg (214 lb)	01983-12-27-000027 December 1983	Rīga	Beibarys Atyrau (KAZ)
24	F	Redlihs, M !Miķelis Rēdlihs	181 cm (5 ft 11 in)	700181000000000000081 kg (179 lb)	01984-07-01-00001 July 1984	Rīga	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
28	F	Girgensons, ZemgusZemgus Girgensons	188 cm (6 ft 2 in)	700188000000000000088 kg (194 lb)	01994-01-05-00005 January 1994	Rīga	Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
29	D	Freibergs, RalfsRalfs Freibergs	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)	700187000000000000087 kg (192 lb)	01991-05-17-000017 May 1991	Rīga	Bowling Green State University (NCAA)
31	G	Masaļskis, EdgarsEdgars Masaļskis	179 cm (5 ft 10 in)	700185000000000000085 kg (187 lb)	01980-03-31-000031 March 1980	Rīga	HK Poprad (SVK)
32	D	Kulda, ArtūrsArtūrs Kulda	188 cm (6 ft 2 in)	700198000000000000098 kg (216 lb)	01988-07-25-000025 July 1988	Leipzig, Germany	Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)
37	D	Bārtulis, OskarsOskars Bārtulis – A	190 cm (6 ft 3 in)	700192000000000000092 kg (203 lb)	01987-01-21-000021 January 1987	Ogre	Donbass Donetsk (KHL)
47	F	Cipulis, MārtiņšMārtiņš Cipulis	181 cm (5 ft 11 in)	700185000000000000085 kg (187 lb)	01980-11-29-000029 November 1980	Cēsis	Dinamo Riga (KHL)
50	G	Gudļevskis, KristersKristers Gudļevskis	193 cm (6 ft 4 in)	700186000000000000086 kg (190 lb)	01992-07-31-000031 July 1992	Aizkraukle	Syracuse Crunch (AHL)
51	F	Jass, KobaKoba Jass	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)	700187000000000000087 kg (192 lb)	01990-05-04-00004 May 1990	Rīga	Bílí Tygři Liberec (CZE)
70	F	Indrašis, MiksMiks Indrašis	190 cm (6 ft 3 in)	700185000000000000085 kg (187 lb)	01990-09-30-000030 September 1990	Rīga	Dinamo Riga (KHL)
79	F	Pavlovs, VitālijsVitālijs Pavlovs	195 cm (6 ft 5 in)	700198000000000000098 kg (216 lb)	01989-06-17-000017 June 1989	Rīga	Dinamo Riga (KHL)
81	D	Pujacs, GeorgijsGeorgijs Pujacs	184 cm (6 ft 0 in)	700198000000000000098 kg (216 lb)	01981-06-11-000011 June 1981	Rīga	Dinamo Riga (KHL)
91	F	Kenins !Ronalds Ķēniņš	182 cm (6 ft 0 in)	700191000000000000091 kg (201 lb)	01991-02-28-000028 February 1991	Rīga	ZSC Lions (NLA)

Coaching history

	Coach	GP	W	T	L	GD	P-ts
1992—1994	Helmuts Balderis	34	25	2	7	256:86	52
1994	Mihails Beskašnovs	2	0	0	2	3:6	0
1995	Ēvalds Grabovskis	11	9	0	2	79:25	18
1996—1999	Leonīds Beresņevs	56	36	7	13	275:143	79
1999—2001	Haralds Vasiļjevs	32	12	8	12	81:76	32
2001—2004	Curt Lindström	65	32	8	25	202:161	72
2004—2006	Leonīds Beresņevs	32	25	3	14	112:113	53
2006	Petr Vorobiev	11	4	1	6	25:35	9
2006—2011	Oļegs Znaroks
2011—2014	Ted Nolan
2014-	Aleksandrs Beļavskis

Current top players

Former and current players in NHL

Players from Latvia who have played in the NHL

Year	Name	Position	Team
1989–1990	Helmuts Balderis	Right winger	Minnesota North Stars
1991–1996 1996–1997 1997–1998 1998–2004	Arturs Irbe	Goaltender	San Jose Sharks Dallas Stars Vancouver Canucks Carolina Hurricanes
1992–1995 1995–1996 2000–2002 2002–2003 2002–2006 2006–2007 2007–2008	Sandis Ozolinš	Defenseman	San Jose Sharks Colorado Avalanche Carolina Hurricanes Florida Panthers Mighty Ducks of Anaheim New York Rangers San Jose Sharks
1992–1994 1995–1996	Grigorijs Pantelejevs	Left winger	Boston Bruins New York Islanders
1992–1995 1996–1998 1998–2000 2000–2001 2001–2003 2003–2004	Sergejs Žoltoks	Centre	Boston Bruins Ottawa Senators Montreal Canadiens Edmonton Oilers Minnesota Wild Nashville Predators
1993–1994	Harijs Vītoliņš	Centre	Winnipeg Jets
1993–1994	Aleksandrs Kerčs	Left winger	Edmonton Oilers
1997–2000 2000–2001 2000–2001 2001–2003	Pēteris Skudra	Goaltender	Pittsburgh Penguins Buffalo Sabres Boston Bruins Vancouver Canucks
1998–1999	Viktors Ignatjevs	Defenseman	Pittsburgh Penguins
1998–2003 2003–2007 2007–2009 2009–2011	Kārlis Skrastiņš	Defenseman	Nashville Predators Colorado Avalanche Florida Panthers Dallas Stars
1998–1999 1999–2001 2001–2002	Herberts Vasiļjevs	Right winger	Florida Panthers Atlanta Thrashers Vancouver Canucks
1999–2001	Kaspars Astašenko	Defenseman	Tampa Bay Lightning
2005–2006 2006–2010 2010–2012	Raitis Ivanāns	Left winger	Tampa Bay Lightning Los Angeles Kings Calgary Flames
2006–2007 2008–2009	Jānis Sprukts	Centre	Florida Panthers
2008–2009	Mārtiņš Karsums	Forward	Florida Panthers Tampa Bay Lightning
2009–2011	Oskars Bārtulis	Defenseman	Philadelphia Flyers
2009–2012 2012–2013	Kaspars Daugaviņš	Left winger	Ottawa Senators Boston Bruins
2009–2011 2011–2012	Artūrs Kulda	Defenseman	Atlanta Thrashers Winnipeg Jets
2013–	Zemgus Girgensons	Forward	Buffalo Sabres
2013–	Kristers Gudļevskis	Goaltender	Tampa Bay Lightning
2015–	Ronalds Ķēniņš	Forward	Vancouver Canucks

NHL Drafts

Players from Latvia to be drafted in the NHL

Year	Name	Overall	Team
1975	Viktors Hatuļevs	160th overall	Philadelphia Flyers
1988 1993	Harijs Vītoliņš	188th overall 228th overall	Montreal Canadiens Winnipeg Jets
1989	Arturs Irbe	196th overall	Minnesota North Stars
1989	Helmuts Balderis	238th overall	Minnesota North Stars
1991	Sandis Ozolinš	30th overall	San Jose Sharks
1992	Sergejs Žoltoks	55th overall	Boston Bruins
1992	Grigorijs Pantelejevs	136th overall	Boston Bruins
1992	Viktors Ignatjevs	243rd overall	San Jose Sharks
1993	Aleksandrs Kercs	60th overall	Edmonton Oilers
1997	Aleksandrs Andrejevs	207th overall	Phoenix Coyotes
1998	Kārlis Skrastinš	230th overall	Nashville Predators
1999	Kaspars Astašenko	127th overall	Tampa Bay Lightning
1999	Georgijs Pujacs	264th overall	Boston Bruins
2000	Agris Saviels	63rd overall	Colorado Avalanche
2000	Jānis Sprukts	234th overall	Florida Panthers
2001	Juris Štāls	269th overall	New York Rangers
2002	Jēkabs Rēdlihs	119th overall	Columbus Blue Jackets
2002	Krišjānis Rēdlihs	154th overall	New Jersey Devils
2002	Armands Bērziņš	155th overall	Minnesota Wild
2003	Raimonds Danilics	255th overall	Tampa Bay Lightning
2003	Lauris Dārziņš	268th overall	Nashville Predators
2004	Mārtiņš Karsums	64th overall	Boston Bruins
2005	Oskars Bārtulis	91st overall	Philadelphia Flyers
2006	Kaspars Daugaviņš	91st overall	Ottawa Senators
2006	Artūrs Kulda	200th overall	Atlanta Thrashers
2010	Kristiāns Pelšs	181st overall	Edmonton Oilers
2012	Zemgus Girgensons	14th overall	Buffalo Sabres
2012	Teodors Blugers	52nd overall	Pittsburgh Penguins
2013	Kristers Gudlevskis	124th overall	Tampa Bay Lightning
2014	Elvis Merzļikins	76th overall	Columbus Blue Jackets
2014	Edgars Kulda	193th overall	Arizona Coyotes

Former notable players

IIHF Hall-of-Famers

Helmuts Balderis, RW, 1993, inducted 1998
Artūrs Irbe, G, 1996–2006, inducted 2010

Retired jerseys

7 - Kārlis Skrastiņš
19 - Helmuts Balderis

Notable players

Aleksandrs Beļavskis 1992–2002
Aigars Cipruss 1992–2009
Vjačeslavs Fanduļs 1992–2004
Aleksandrs Kerčs 1992–2004
Rodrigo Laviņš 1992–
Aleksandrs Semjonovs 1992–2007
Kārlis Skrastiņš 1992–2010
Leonīds Tambijevs 1992–2007
Artūrs Irbe 1993–2006
Sergejs Naumovs 1993–2010
Aleksandrs Ņiživijs 1993–2014

Harijs Vītoliņš 1993–2002
Oļegs Znaroks 1993–1999
Grigorijs Panteļejevs 1994–2007
Sergejs Žoltoks 1994–2004
Sandis Ozoliņš 1996–2014
Herberts Vasiļjevs 1997–
Edgars Masaļskis 2000–
Jānis Sprukts 2000–
Krišjānis Rēdlihs 2002–
Lauris Dārziņš 2003–
Miķelis Rēdlihs 2003–

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Includes Olympics, World Championships, World Cups, Canada Cups and Summit Series.
↑ "Beļavskis nosauc sastāvu PČ Prāgā". lhf.lv. 2015-04-27.
↑ "Team Latvia roster". iihf.com.
↑ Nick Zaccardi (7 January 2014). "Latvia Olympic hockey roster includes Sandis Ozolinsh, 41". NBC Olympictalk. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
↑ Team Roster Latvia

External links

Men's national ice hockey teams

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