Mogo/RSU open Optibet Hockey League season with convincing win over Riga HS/Dinaburga
Mogo/RSU beat Riga HS/Dinaburga 4:1 on Wednesday in Riga in their first Optibet Hockey League game of the new season.
Riga hockey club Mogo/RSU began the new Optibet Hockey League (OHL) season on a strong note, defeating Riga HS/Dinaburga 4:1 at home on Wednesday. The result marked the visitors' second loss of the season.
Match summary
The hosts took the lead in the first period when Ernests Krūms scored in the 15th minute. In the second period, Rūdolfs Polcs extended Mogo/RSU's advantage while his team was shorthanded, netting his second goal of the game. Jānis Zemītis added another goal in the third period, in the 46th minute. The visitors' only goal came late in the game, in the 58th minute, scored by Armands Apsītis.
Top performers
Besides Polcs, who scored twice, Krūms and Zemītis each contributed one goal and one assist. Kristaps Sotnieks and Kaspars Daugaviņš each recorded two assists. Home goaltender Kārlis Mežsargs made 43 saves out of 44 shots faced. Polcs was named the game's best player for the home side, while forward Artūrs Ševčenko earned the honor for the visitors.
About the season
Nine teams are competing in this season's OHL: Mogo/RSU, Zemgale/LBTU, Kyiv Capitals, Liepāja hockey team, Riga Prizma/RTU, Riga HS/Dinaburga, Tallinn Panter, Elektrėnai Energija, and Vilnius Hockey Punks. In the regular season, each team will play 32 games across a four-round format, after which the six best teams will advance to the playoffs. The playoff winner will be crowned Baltic champion, while the highest-placed Latvian and Lithuanian teams in the regular season standings will be recognized as their respective national champions. Last season, Mogo/RSU won the OHL title for the third consecutive year, defeating Zemgale/LBTU in the final series.
