Latvia unveiled its Olympic roster on Monday – but head coach Harijs Vitolins admitted there is still some uncertainty about his final party for Beijing. Although the pre-tournament camp officially starts in Riga today, several European-based players are still traveling home. As a result, the six names scratched from Latvia’s long list remain in contention should any of the chosen 25 report with health problems.

The situation left Vitolins a frustrated figure. “I don’t even really understand why I have to name the line-up now because I haven’t yet seen any of the candidates on the ice,” he said. “But these are the rules.”

In particular, Vitolins is awaiting the arrival of three players based in Sweden – goalies Kristers Gudlevskis and Janis Kalnins, plus forward Rodrigo Abols. “It has not been confirmed when they will arrive,” the coach added. “Negotiations are in progress, we are promised that everything will be settled, but there is no official confirmation.” Other European-based players are set to join the team on 29 January.

A PyeongChang champion

Latvia’s Olympic pedigree starts behind the bench. Head coach Harijs Vitolins was assistant to Oleg Znarok when the Olympic Athletes from Russia won gold in PyeongChang four years ago. Vitolins has a proven track record as an assistant, winning Gagarin Cups and a World Championship alongside Znarok, as well as working on Latvia’s Olympic teams in 2006 and 2010. This season, though, is his first time as head coach of a national team. It began well, with a strong performance in Olympic qualification back in August, but Beijing promises a new, bigger challenge.

Compared with the team that came through the qualification phase in August, Latvia is missing key components from its offensive arsenal. NHL duo Rudolfs Balcers and Teodors Blugers contributed 10 points between them in Riga and look poised to be the national team’s leaders for some years to come. Zemgus Girgensons, who was the sole NHLer on the 2014 Olympic roster, is also unavailable. Toronto’s defenceman Kristians Rubins went on to make his NHL debut after that Olympic qualification success and he too will remain in North America. Goalies Arturs Silovs and Mareks Mitens, both of whom remained on the bench in August, are similarly unavailable for Beijing.

Sochi returnees provide firepower

However, there’s no lack of experience, particularly among Latvia’s forwards. It might be eight years since the Baltic state last went to the Games, but five of the offence from Sochi return here. Ronalds Kenins, a 30-year-old power forward who has played most of his career in Switzerland, matched Blugers’ six-point haul in qualification. In recent seasons, his production has stepped up and Kenins is likely to be a more potent force than in 2014, where he went pointless through five games. It’s a similar story for Miks Indrasis, 31, who has grown into a key part of the national team in recent years.

Latvia’s leading scorer in Sochi, Lauris Darzins, continues to be a hugely influential figure at the age of 36: he captains Dinamo Riga in the KHL and will play the same role for his country in Beijing. Like Darzins, fellow 30-somethings Martins Karsums and Kaspars Daugavins are elder statemen returning for a third Olympic tournament.

Among the Olympic first-timers, the Bukarts brothers have the greatest international experience. Roberts, 31, is the elder of the two, and the Vitkovice winger has been to eight World Championships. Rihards, 26, is currently with the KHL’s Admiral Vladivostok after a career that has taken in Czechia, Germany and Dinamo Riga. In August, he got the opening goal in Latvia’s decisive qualifier against France. Orebro’s Rodrigo Abols and Jukurit’s Patriks Batna play at centre, and both bring further World Championship know-how.

Then there are the youngsters. Martins Dzierkals, a QMJHL champion with Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in 2016, had two goals for Latvia at last year’s World Championship. The 24-year-old winger is currently with Plzen. Two more young forwards complete the group. Renars Krastenburgs, 23, has been productive for Villach this season, compiling 27 points in 29 games in Austria’s cross-border league. And 22-year-old Deniss Smirnovs, one of several Latvians based in Switzerland, is off to his first senior international tourney.

New generation on defence

At the back, Latvia has a youthful look. Patriks Ozols is the youngest man on the roster. The 20-year-old from Dinamo Riga has yet to play a senior international game, but he has caught the eye in his KHL rookie season. Despite Dinamo’s struggles, the captain of Latvia’s 2019 U18 World Championship roster has not looked out of place in the men’s game and, on a defensive line stacked with his clubmates, could be ready for the next stage of his development in Beijing.

Among the Dinamo contingent, Kristaps Zile and Karlis Cukste are also likely to be a big part of Latvia’s hockey future. Both are 24 years old but the two have followed different paths to this point. Zile has developed through the Dinamo system and made his KHL debut back in 2015/16. He’s now an established figure on Riga’s blue line and has been to three World Championships. Meanwhile, Cukste, whose mother Baiba played international hockey around the turn of the century, returned to Latvia during the 2020/21 campaign after four seasons in the NCAA with Quinnipiac University. He impressed during Latvia’s qualification tournament – his first competitive international action since his junior days.

Uvis Balinskis, who has overcome an injury to secure his place, and Janis Jaks are also players looking to build on burgeoning reputations. Jaks, 26, spent more than six seasons in North America before returning to his homeland partway through 2020/21. Regularly in and around Latvia’s World Championship teams, he’s now benefitting from ice time with HK Sochi in the KHL. Balinskis, 25, is in his second season with Litvinov in Czechia.

Experience comes from Ralfs Freibergs and Arturs Kulda, both of whom were on the Sochi roster eight years ago. Back then, they were understudies on a team that featured Latvian hockey legend Sandis Ozolins; this time, they will be expected to provide the leadership for a generation of emerging talent. With eight World Championships behind him, 33-year-old Oskars Cibulskis is another veteran figure.

Punnenovs injury worry

The goaltending situation is uncertain at present. Ivars Punnenovs did the heavy lifting in qualification, playing all 180 minutes and allowing just one goal in that tournament. However, his numbers for SCL Tigers, currently struggling in the Swiss National League, are less impressive and he returned from Switzerland with an injury.

That could open the door for Kristers Gudlevskis, who made a name for himself with a courageous performance in Latvia’s 1-2 loss to Canada in Sochi. Janis Kalnins, 30, who boasts a wealth of KHL experience from his time with Dinamo Riga and Jokerit, completes the trio. However, the Vaxjo Laker has relatively little international exposure to date.

Roster

Goalkeepers
Kristers Gudlevskis, Brynas Gavle (SWE)
Janis Kalnins, Vaxjo Lakers (SWE)
Ivars Punnenovs, SCL Tigers (SUI)

Defenders
Uvis Janis Balinskis, HC Litvinov (CZE)
Oskars Cibulskis, Dinamo Riga
Karlis Cukste, Dinamo Riga
Ralfs Freibergs, Dinamo Riga
Janis Jaks, HK Sochi (RUS)
Arturs Kulda, Krefeld Pinguine (GER)
Patriks Ozols, Dinamo Riga
Kristaps Zile, Dinamo Riga

Forwards
Rodrigo Abols, Orebro HK (SWE)
Oskars Batna, Jukurit Mikkeli (FIN)
Rihards Bukarts, Admiral Vladivostok (RUS)
Roberts Bukarts, Vitkovice Ostrava (CZE)
Lauris Darzins, Dinamo Riga
Kaspars Daugavins, SC Bern (SUI)
Andris Dzerins, Black Wings Linz (AUT)
Martins Dzierkals, HC Plzen (CZE)
Miks Indrasis, Admiral Vladivostok (RUS)
Nikolajs Jelisejevs, Dinamo Riga
Martins Karsums, Dinamo Riga
Ronalds Kenins, Lausanne HC (SUI)
Renars Krastenbergs, VSV Villach (AUT)
Deniss Smirnovs, Geneve-Servette (SUI)

Head Coach
Harijs Vitolins