Prizma and Baltic Wolves win second stage of 3on3 hockey youth tournament in Riga

The second qualifying stage of the “3on3 hockey” youth ice hockey tournament, for U11 and U13 age-group teams, has been played at the Volvo Ice Arena in Riga. After two stages, the teams that will compete for trophies at the final tournament in January have been determined. The tournament is being held for the first time; the first stage took place on 29 August at the Inbox Ice Arena, and the second on 24 October.

U11 group

Eight teams took part in the second stage, split into two sub-groups. HK Prizma, which had not played in the first stage, won sub-group A: it beat HK Ozoli 8:4, the Baltic Wolves white team 11:0, and first-stage winners Zibeņi 7:6. In sub-group B, Rīgas HS 2016 and the Baltic Wolves dark team drew with each other, and first place was decided on goal difference: 22:8 against 21:8 in favour of Rīgas HS 2016.

In the bronze-medal game, Zibeņi lost 1:7 to Baltic Wolves. In the final, HK Prizma beat Rīgas HS 2016 8:3. Fifth place went to 3on3 Select, whose core was largely Lithuanian players, after a 7:4 win over HK Ozoli. HK Tukums/Stiga SM took seventh place by beating the Baltic Wolves white team 5:4.

The top scorer was Tomass Kalniņš and the most valuable player was Rihards Grāvītis, both of HK Prizma. The best goaltender was Ričards Masaļskis (Rīgas HS 2016), the best defender Kristers Kuzmins (Zibeņi) and the best playmaker Pēteris Šelts (Ozoli). Horens Trubiņš (Tukums/Stiga RM) was named most creative player, and Hugo Meldrājs (Baltic Wolves Black) received the “iron man” award.

After two stages, HK Zibeņi lead the U11 overall standings with 150 points, followed by Baltic Wolves Black (145) and HK Prizma (100).

U13 group

Only four teams played in the U13 group because several others could not attend. Rīgas HS II won all three group games, including 7:6 against Baltic Wolves. In the placement games, teams that had lost in the group took revenge: Talsi Hockey Club beat Rīgas HS I 5:4 in the bronze-medal game, and Baltic Wolves defeated Rīgas HS II 10:6 to win the stage.

In the overall standings after two stages, Rīgas HS II lead with 160 points, ahead of Rīgas HS I (115) and Talsi Hockey Club (115). According to the source, Rīgas HS II's overall win in theory gives them weaker opponents at the final tournament.