Latvia ice hockey team changes roster for Germany tournament due to health problems
Forwards Filips Buncis and Darels Dukurs will miss the Deutschland Cup in Düsseldorf because of health issues. Rūdolfs Polcs and Dāniels Andersons have been added in their place.
Latvia's men's national ice hockey team will play in the Deutschland Cup, a preseason-style friendly tournament, in Düsseldorf this week without two forwards. The Latvian Ice Hockey Federation (LHF) said that Filips Buncis and Darels Dukurs will not take part because of health problems.
Their places in the squad go to two players from clubs in the Optibet Hockey League (OHL, Latvia's top-tier domestic championship): Rūdolfs Polcs of the reigning champions Mogo/RSU and Dāniels Andersons of Liepājas hokeja komanda.
Tournament schedule
The team, led by head coach Harijs Vītoliņš, will travel to Düsseldorf on Wednesday with three goaltenders, eight defencemen and 14 forwards. The tournament runs from 5 to 8 November. Besides Latvia, Germany, Slovakia and Austria will take part.
Latvia plays its first game on Thursday at 17:15 Latvian time against Slovakia. On 7 November at 19:30 the team meets Germany, and on 8 November at 12:00 it closes the tournament against Austria. All of Latvia's games will be broadcast live on the TV6 channel.
Previous appearances
Latvia has played in the Deutschland Cup twice before. In 2020 the team won the event; because of Covid-19 restrictions only three teams took part then — Latvia, Germany and Germany's U-23 side. Last year Latvia recorded one victory and finished third. The Deutschland Cup has been held since 1987, and this will be the 37th consecutive edition.
Coaching staff and next plans
Vītoliņš is assisted by coaches Lauris Dārziņš, Sandis Ozoliņš and Raimonds Vilkoits. Artūrs Irbe is the goaltending coach, Pēteris Groms the video coach and Ēriks Visockis the fitness coach. In December the national team will play in the Kaufland Cup in Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia.
The goaltenders are Ivars Punnenovs, Gustavs Dāvis Grigals and Jānis Fecers. The defence includes Kristaps Zīle, Kristiāns Rubīns, Artūrs Andžāns, Miks Tumānovs, Sandis Smons, Nauris Sējējs, Ralfs Bergmanis and Niks Feņenko.
