With the IIHF World Junior Championship just around the corner, Team Latvia announced their final roster early on Wednesday morning. Head coach Artis Abols will be leading Latvia’s U20 team for the fourth straight year.
While there are a few returning players, many of Latvia’s NHL prospects from last year have aged out. As a result, this year they’ll be bringing a much different-looking group of players.
Goaltenders
(Linards Felbergs, Aksels Ozols, Janis Fecers)
Two goaltenders, Linards Felbergs and Aksels Ozols, will return from last year’s team. Ozols returned to the Latvian Optibet Hokeja Liga this season after a stint with the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) during the 2023-24 season. Arbols will be very familiar with Ozols, as the 19-year-old has been his starting netminder for HK Zemgale this season. In 11 games with Zemgale, Ozols has a .922 save percentage (SV%) and a 1.96 goals-against average (GAA).
Felbergs on the other hand, made the jump to North America this season where he has become the starting goaltender for the QMJHL’s Sherbrooke Phoenix. In 21 games, he has recorded a .899 SV% and a 2.51 GAA.
Neither goaltender had a strong 2024 tournament, however, last year’s starter Deivs Rolovs aged out. As a result, both will have a clean slate and a wide-open opportunity to earn the starting job.
Newcomer Janis Fecers is playing for Herning Blue Fox in Denmark’s Metal Ligaen. Considering his age and lack of experience at the international level, it’s less likely he’ll compete for a starting role however it’s certainly not impossible. In seven games with Blue Fox, he has a .894 SV% and 2.10 GAA.
Defensemen
(Viktors Kurbaka, Oskars Briedis, Darels Uljanskis, Peteris Bulans, Harijs Cjunskis, Krisjanis Sarts, Emils Skeltins, Krists Retenais)
Latvia had quite a bit of turnover on the blue line, as there are only three returning players on defense. The captain will be Peteris Bulans of the QMJHL’s Chicoutimi Sagueneens. He’ll be making his second appearance in the tournament. Last year, he recorded a single goal and assist in five games.
Another returning player will be an alternate captain, Viktors Kurbaka. Kurbaka failed to record a point in five games last year, however, he was solid defensively on a team that struggled mightily to keep the puck out of the…
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