Latvia's Ice Hockey Team Heads to Deutschland Cup Without Buncis and Dukurs

Latvia's men's national ice hockey team will compete at the Deutschland Cup, an international tournament held in Düsseldorf from 5 to 8 November, without Buncis and Dukurs. Two players from the Optibet Hockey League (OHL, Latvia's top-level domestic championship) were included instead: Rūdolfs Polcs of the champions Mogo/RSU and Dāniels Andersons of Liepājas hokeja komanda.

Squad and staff

The team, led by head coach Harijs Vītoliņš, travels to Düsseldorf on Wednesday with three goaltenders, eight defencemen and 14 forwards. 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. Among the forwards are Rodrigo Ābols, Haralds Egle, Renārs Krastenbergs and Patriks Zabusovs, along with Polcs and Andersons.

Vītoliņš is assisted by coaches Lauris Dārziņš, Sandis Ozoliņš and Raimonds Vilkoits, goaltending coach Artūrs Irbe, video coach Pēteris Groms and fitness coach Ēriks Visockis.

Schedule

Alongside Latvia, the tournament features Germany, Slovakia and Austria. Latvia opens against Slovakia on Thursday at 17:15 Latvian time. On 7 November at 19:30 it faces Germany, and on 8 November at 12:00 it closes the tournament against Austria. All of the team's games will be broadcast live on the TV6 channel.

Past appearances

The Deutschland Cup has been held since 1987, and this will be the 37th consecutive edition. Latvia has taken part twice. In 2020 the team won the tournament, which featured only three teams because of Covid-19 restrictions: Latvia, Germany and Germany's U-23 side. Last year Latvia finished third, with one win.

In December the team will also play in the Kaufland Cup in Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia.