NHL defenseman Balinskis and other Latvian hockey players train on a mall ice rink
Latvian national team players, including NHL defenseman Uvis Jānis Balinskis, held an unusual training session on the ice of the shopping center "Akropole Rīga" on July 8, preparing for the international 3x3 tournament "8 Nations Cup".
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Unusual training in the mall
On Thursday, July 9, 2026, visitors to "Akropole Rīga" witnessed an unusual sight – several Latvian national hockey players took to the ice in the middle of the shopping center. Among them were NHL defenseman Uvis Jānis Balinskis, as well as North American-based players Eduards Tralmaks and Sandis Vilmanis.
The training took place the day before the official announcement of the upcoming tournament. On July 18 and 19, the international three-on-three (3x3) hockey tournament "8 Nations Cup" will be held at the Xiaomi Arena, with Latvia represented by a number of national team players.
Latvia's roster for the tournament
In addition to Balinskis, Tralmaks, and Vilmanis, the tournament will also feature Kristaps Zīle, Renārs Krastenbergs, Deniss Smirnovs, Roberts Mamčics, and Patriks Zabusovs. The team is preparing for the competition, which promises to be a serious challenge.
Balinskis himself noted that skating in the middle of a mall created an unusual atmosphere, but it was a good way to draw attention to the upcoming tournament and promote hockey in Latvia.
