Latvia win final warm-up match

RIGA, Latvia – The Latvian men’s hockey team has won their final warm up match ahead of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Champs, defeating Norway 5-3 on Tuesday evening.

Fully prepared for a backlash from the Norwegians whom they had beaten 4-1 an evening previous, Latvia came out firing, starving the Norwegians of the puck in the opening period to avoid going behind early.

Latvia’s first goal came in the form of an individual effort from Janis Andersons in the 10th minute before Lauris Darzins doubled the lead in the final seconds of the opening period. It was the team’s elder statesmen in Aleksandrs Nizivijs and Herberts Vasiljevs who were contributed with assisting Darzins.

Norwaybit back midway through the second period, claiming their opening goal in the 34th minute in what would prove to be the only real action of the second period.

Goal scoring from both sides picked up immensely in the final period, with three goals from in a two minute flurry. Gints Meija and Armands Berzins set up Oskars Cibulskis for the first in the 46th minute before Norway hit back 29 seconds later. But Cibulskis was straight back into the action, scoring again in the 48th with Meija and Berzins being accredited with another assist.

Norwayrefused to go away however, coming back within a goal in the 53rd minute. Again Latvia hit back quickly, claiming their fifth and final goal a minute later when Nizivijs picked up another assist along with Martins Cipulis in setting up Georgijs Pujacs.