Coach Abols is staying put

Coach Artis Abols was only too happy to let his players revel in their historic victory last night, to soak it up and enjoy it, to let it sink in. But he also knows there is more to do. After all, the game was Latvia’s first game in the tournament, and the larger truth is that the team is playing four games in five nights. They’re at it again tonight against the United States, another pre-tournament favorite.

“I tell them, I’m so proud, but like I said, the two points tonight don’t do us any good,” Abols said after the eight-round 3-2 shootout win. “If we don’t take two more, these two won’t matter. But at the moment it’s a nice feeling.”

In four previous meetings at the World Juniors, Canada had won 16-0, 10-2, 5-2 and exactly a year ago 10-0.

One way to bring players back to reality is to realize that Canada beat Latvia 57-27. The game was close mainly because of the incredible performance of goalkeeper Linards Feldbergs. Last year he played one game at the World Juniors against Canada. He allowed seven goals in 44 minutes of play, was sent off and watched the rest of the tournament from the bench. The first goal in this game was memorable for Abols.

“The (Conor) Geekie goal on the power play was the first time (Feldbergs) had ever faced such a hard shot! That’s an NHL shot. Probably nine out of ten NHL goalies would have allowed that goal.”

A year later, Canada scored the first goal again last night. But it came in the second period due to a mistake by the 19-year-old goalkeeper. He remained in his crease when a loose puck came his way. Jett Luchanko followed it up and hit Feldbergs with a deke.

“This goal shows that he is mentally strong because we had a power play and his decision was not good,” Abols continued. “He should go out and play the puck. But he stayed mentally strong, played at a high level and finished well.”

The victory was doubly shocking. Not only was it a David versus Goliath duel, but the Latvians also have four players born in 2008. Every second player in the tournament is from 2005 and 2006, with 17 exceptions (250 registered players).

These four Latvian players are Olivers Murnieks, Martins Klaucans, Rudolfs Berzkalns and Roberts Naudins. Only Naudins was unable to play last night, while Murnieks logged 18:40, Klaucans 14:08 and Berzkalns 9:43 of ice time. Abols is quick to point out that he didn’t include these four 16-year-olds in the squad because they are all ready for the U20 game today – there is simply a lack of U20 talent in Latvia at the moment.

“We are missing players from 2005 and 2006,” he admitted. “During the Corona crisis, many players stopped playing. That’s just how it is. But these players are no better than the young people we have here. There is a lot of talk about Murnieks and it looks like he could become a good player. The others don’t get as much attention, but right now I’m proud of every guy who stepped on the ice tonight. They all did their best. It’s huge for our team to beat Canada in front of 18,000 fans.”

This victory keeps the small but hockey-loving nation in the international spotlight. Remember, just a year and a half ago, the senior national team won its first-ever men’s World Championship medal: bronze in Helsinki. This result did not go unnoticed by Abols and his players.

“The bronze medal was a sign that anything is possible. For Latvia too, there have to be a lot of stones falling in the right place, but even here in one game the youngest team in the tournament can beat Canada.”

Yes, it’s just one game, but these two points will go a long way in helping Latvia reach the quarter-finals and avoid the relegation game. And when it comes to making history, young Latvians now have a confidence that they simply didn’t have 24 hours ago. Let’s see where this takes them in the next few days.