Latvia knocked out of hockey championship

The Latvian national ice hockey team lost to Switzerland on May 20, effectively knocking the team out of the competition. Latvia therefore failed to make it to the quarterfinals in this 2014 IIHF World Championship, reports LETA.

The team, coming off a critical and, to many, shocking loss to Belarus, skated hard in the second and third periods, but was unable to erase a 3:0 first period lead built up by the Swiss.

A Latvian goal with about 2:20 to go brought the team closer at 2:3. The Swiss then missed an easy empty-net goal with about 45 seconds to go, and Latvia went on a final attack, but with no success.

The previous night, Latvia, in its crucial game against Belarus, one marred by multiple penalties and some very questionable referee calls, was defeated 1:3 (0:2, 1:0, 0:1) propelling host Belarus into the quarterfinals.

Switzerland was the 2013 silver medalist.

Latvia returns home to review and study the game films.