Other events in Baltic States

The Latvian national under-20 (U-20) men's ice hockey team earned the right to play in the Elite Division next year at the World Men's U-20 Ice Hockey Championships after a gutsy 3:1 win over home team Belarus (Division I Group A) last night, informs LETA.

Scoring for the Latvians were Edgars Dikis and Bruno Zabis, with an empty net goal added by Juris Upitis as time ran out.

Only the winner of the Division I Group A tournament – and subsequently last night's game – would join the Elite next year, so the stakes were high. Team Latvia won all of its games for 15 points and a solid first place.

The roster of the Latvian U-20 squad at the World Championships was as follows: goalies – Janis Kalnins ("Liepajas metalurgs"), Kristers Gudlevskis ("HC Riga"); Defenders – Eriks Sevcenko, Martins Porejs, Martins Jakovlevs, Arturs Salija, Karlis Kalvitis, Edgars Dikis (all HC "Riga"), Raimonds Tubelis ("Liepajas metalurgs"), Ralfs Freibergs (Texas "Tornado", United States).

Forwards – Maris Bicevskis, Juris Upitis, Elvijs Biezais, Davis Straupe, Arturs Mickevics (all "HC Riga"), Maris Dilevka, Egils Kalns, Bruno Zabis (all "Liepajas metalurgs"), Ronalds Kenins ("GCK Lions", Switzerland), Girts Jansons ("Muik Hockey", Finland), Kristians Pelss (Edmonton "Oil Kings", Canada), Zemgus Girgensons (Dubuque "Fighting Saints", United States).