Latvian 3x3 hockey team opens Nations Cup with two convincing wins
Latvia's 3x3 hockey team won both of its first two games at the 8 Nations Cup in Riga on Saturday, defeating Estonia and Finland.
The Latvian 3x3 hockey national team made an excellent start to the 8 Nations Cup in Riga on Saturday, securing victories in both of its opening matches.
In the first game, Latvia beat Estonia 5:2, followed by a 10:6 win over Finland. Basketball player Kristaps Porziņģis performed the ceremonial puck drop before the tournament.
On Sunday, the team is scheduled to face the Czech Republic, after which the elimination rounds will begin.
The Latvian squad includes Uvis Balinskis, Sandis Vilmanis, Eduards Tralmaks, Kristaps Zīle, Renārs Krastenbergs, Deniss Smirnovs, Roberts Mamčics, Patriks Zabusovs, Frenks Razgals, and goaltender Mareks Mitens. The head coach is Lauris Dārziņš.
Sunday's matches at Xiaomi Arena will run from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM and will be streamed live on the 24sport.app platform.
The tournament features eight national teams: Latvia, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Estonia.
A 3x3 hockey game consists of three seven-minute periods. Each team has three skaters and a goaltender on the ice at the same time. Body checking is not allowed; a penalty results in a penalty shot where the player faces the goaltender one-on-one while the opposing players may attempt to distract.
In addition to the 3x3 games, ice fights called Glove Off will take place during breaks, featuring athletes from various countries. The fights follow tournament regulations and consist of three one-minute rounds.
