Senior hockey staff sacked

RIGA -- Several senior staff members of the Latvian national hockey team, including the coach and general manager have all been fired after Latvia's dismal performance in the 2011 Ice Hockey World Championships.

Head coach Olegs Znaroks, assistant coaches Harijs Vitolins and Leonids Beresnevs, and general manager Sandis Ozolins were releived from their duties at a May 23 LHF board meeting.

The news comes on the heels of a 13th place finish -- one of the worst since Latvia joined hockey's elite division -- at the recent IIHF world championships in Slovakia. The team was just one loss away from relegation to Div I.

Znaroks has been the national team head coach since 2006. As a player he also took part in 50 international matches for team Latvia and 9 internationals for the Soviet team.

He is currently the coach of the KHL's HC MVD Moscow Oblast.