Davids Livšits scored the only goal for the Latvian national team, but Linards Feldbergs kept the goal for the second day in a row. Feldberg, who saved 55 shots on Friday, managed 36 shots a day later.
17-year-old forward Daniel Serkin was recognized as the best player for Latvians, who stood out in several episodes with a selfless game, blocking opponents’ shots.
The day before, the Latvians defeated Canada 3:2 in the shootout.
In subgroup A, after two games, the USA has six points, Canada – four, Finland – three, Latvia – two, but Germany remained without points in both duels.
Already at the end of the second minute of the game, Danny Nelsons was the first to rebound in front of the goal of the Latvian national team, who made it 1:0 in favor of the Americans. At the end of the third quarter, the Latvians played in the majority and ended the first 20 minutes with a lead in shots on goal – 8:7.
In the sixth minute of the second period, Ryan Leonard sent the puck into an unattended corner of the goal and made it 2-0. The opponent also scored the third goal unhindered, in the 12th minute of the third period, Zēvas Bujumas stood out with a prepared shot.
At the end of the third period, the Latvians remained in the big minority, Linards Feldberg made an excellent save in one of the episodes. Daniel Serkin made selfless blocks, but Nelson made it 4-0 late in the period as the Americans continued to dominate. Although the Latvians were oppressive in the chase, the number of shots made was similar (20:24).
The USA’s lead was reduced in the ninth minute of the third period, when Roberts Naudins intercepted the puck, passed it to Dmitrij Dilevkas, after which Livsic was the first to take a shot at the rebound. Four and a half minutes before the end of regular time, the USA made it 5-1 on the counterattack, with a goal by Max Plant.
Davids Livsics buries the rebound! Latvia is on the board! #LATUSA #WorldJuniors #IIHF @lhf_lv pic.twitter.com/2tDfTf2oEF
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 28, 2024
In the final 20 minutes, the opponents had a significant advantage in shots (17:6).
The young Latvian hockey players made one of the biggest surprises in the tournament’s history in the first game on Friday, defeating Canada 3:2 in the shootout. The Americans played their first game on Thursday when they beat Germany 10-4.
Latvia has not been able to win the USA in the junior world championships, including losing 2:7 in the quarter-finals of the previous championship.
In the continuation of the tournament, Latvian hockey players will play against their German peers on December 30 at 22:30, and in the last match of the subgroup on December 31 at 21:30, they will compete against the Finnish national team.
In Group B, after two games, the Czech Republic and Sweden have six points each, Slovakia has three points, and Switzerland and Kazakhstan have no points.
The top four teams in each group will advance to the quarter-finals, while the fifth-placed teams will play one game to stay in the elite group.
Before the tournament, the Latvian U-20 national team coached by Artas Ābolas played two test matches in Canada, where they lost to their peers from the Czech Republic and Switzerland with an identical score of 1:5.
Latvian U-20 national team:
goalkeepers – Linards Feldbergs (Sherbruk “Phoenix”, QMJHL), Aksels Ozols (Jelgava “Zemgale”/LBTU), Jānis Fecers (Herninga “Blue Fox”, Denmark);
defenders – Viktors Kurbaka (“Ocelari” of Tršinec, Czech Republic), Oskars Briedis (“Zemgale” of Jelgava/LBTU), Darel Uljanskis (Šellefteo AIK, Sweden), Pēteris Bulans (Šikutimi “Sgueneens”, QMJHL), Harijs Cjunskis (Rouen-Noranda “Huskies”, QMJHL), Krišjānis Sārts (St. Cloud “Norsemen”), NAHL), Emil Skeltiņš (Amarillo “Wranglers”, NAHL), Krists Retenais (Aberdeen “Wings”, NAHL);
forwards – David Livšić (Rovaniemi “RoKi”, Finland), Erik Mateiko (St. John’s “Sea Dogs”, QMJHL), Valdis Dommers (Hradeckrálovas “Mountfield”, Czech Republic), Tom Mott (Jelgava “Zemgale”/LBTU), Raul Ozollapa ( Pršerova “Zubr”, Czech Republic), Olivers Mūrnieks (Sucity “Musketeers”, USHL), Bruno Osmanis, Markus Sieradzkis (both – Umeå “Bjorkloven”, Sweden), Rudolfs Bērzkalns (Maskigona “Lumberjacks”, USHL), Daniels Serkin (Bern, Switzerland), Antons Macijewskis, Dmitrijs Dilevka (both – Watertown “Shamrocks”, NAHL), Martins Klaucans (St. Cloud “Norsemen”), Roberts Naudiņš (“Shattuck St.Mary’s”, USHS-Prep).
Source: www.diena.lv
