Defence

The biggest name in Latvian hockey, Sandis Ozolins, is missing, but the roster is not short of the veteran’s Dinamo Riga team-mates. The reliable Georgijs Pujacs and Kristaps Sotnieks provide plenty of experience, along with ex-Dinamo man Guntis Galvins, now at AIK Stockholm. There’s also a call-up for young Janis Jaks of Dinamo’s farm club. The 18-year-old has yet to play for Dinamo’s senior team but has earned a call-up to the national roster after he also impressed in Poland. Latvia allowed just seven goals in five games there, including three shut-outs, and Jaks was voted the top defenceman in the competition. With Ozolins and assistant captain Oskars Bartulis both absent this time, it’s important for Latvia to start bringing on its next generation of blue-liners to maintain the team’s presence at the top level.

Forward

There are more than a few changes up front as well, with some significant losses and a couple of welcome returns. Experienced duo Alexander Nizivijs and Gints Meija are back in the fold after injuries ruled them out of the Olympics, but the loss of Lauris Darzins, Martins Karsums and the Lokomotiv pair of Mikelis Redlihs and Janis Sprukts will inevitably take its toll on Latvia’s offensive options. Darzins and Sprukts between them delivered nine points in Sochi, comfortably leading the team’s scoring.

Again, though, this creates opportunities for the rising stars of the under-20s. Roberts Lipsbergs, another Dinamo graduate now playing for the Seattle Thunderbirds, helped the nation to u18 Division 1 gold in 2011 and scored 6+1=7 in his most recent outing with the u20s in Poland back in December, making him the leading goalscorer in the tournament.

Zemgus Girgensons, the roster’s lone NHL regular under Nolan at Buffalo, is perhaps the player with the biggest reputation outside of Latvia. He spent the whole of the season just gone with the Sabres, posting 8+14=22 in 70 games, and also got his first Olympic goal in Latvia’s loss to Sweden. But the 20-year-old, for all his potential, remains a raw prospect who is still learning his trade at this level. The onus still rests firmly on his more experienced colleagues.

Coaching

Ted Nolan would be the first to admit that he knew little about Latvia when he was invited to coach the team after 2011’s narrow escape from World Championship relegation. Since then, though, he’s grown into his role and become a hugely popular figure in his adopted country.

The Canadian, who combines his duties in Riga with the head coach’s role at Buffalo Sabres, is noted for his boundless enthusiasm and confidence and his deep belief in his players’ ability has paid off, lifting Latvia to its first ever Olympic quarter-final after winning a game at the Olympics for the first time since 2002. But don’t be fooled by the romantic tale of the dreamy underdog: Nolan’s teams are well-drilled and frustrating for the big boys to play against.

Projected Results

Latvian hockey is on a high after a best-ever Olympic showing, and Nolan’s ‘can-do’ approach to coaching his team will ensure there’s no shortage of belief that the team can improve on its recent World Championship struggles. A quarter-final spot would represent another solid achievement, and it may well be attainable. Finland and Russia are out of sight at the head of Group B, and an experimental USA roster should be strong enough to deliver a top-four finish without undue alarm. However, even allowing for the Sochi absentees, Latvia will feel it can once again battle with Switzerland to complete the qualifiers for the knock-out stage. When those two sides meet in the final group stage game on May 20 that could be the decisive game for them.

Much will also depend on the performance of the host nation, though: Belarus is also capable of winning that race for fourth, especially if generous home support inspires the team. A slow start could see Latvia sucked into a struggle to keep away from relegation if Belarus exceeds expectations while Kazakhstan and Germany will target the men in maroon as a potential source of vital points in the battle to stay off the bottom. As always, though, Latvia won’t lack for fans at this competition and after Nolan delivered on his pre-Sochi promise that big tournaments are where magical things happen, there are grounds for optimism here as well.