RIGA - It's been a dramatic finale to the Latvian Hockey Federation season. So dramatic, in fact, that there very nearly wasn't even going to be a league next season.
But the drama was also played out on the ice. In the first leg of the championship final held March 25, Riga 2000 beat ASK/Ogre 5-3. The second leg was held on March 28 at Riga's home ice, the Siemens Ice Hall, which was packed out for the occasion.
Both teams played well in the first period but it remained level due to some great goalkeeping on both sides. As the second period got underway all the pressure was on ASK/Ogre, despite the spirited support of its fans. There were several atempts on goal by Riga 2000 but the incredible goalkeeping of Dmitrijs Zabotinskis kept it at bay. ASK/Ogre stuck to the only tactics that have worked against Riga 2000 this season, which was to keep the tempo high and wear Riga 2000 down.
In the second period Redlihs shoveled the puck into the net after a failed play by two of his teamates. It wasn't a pretty goal, but it was the turning point that Riga 2000 needed. After the goal ASK/Ogre goalie Zabotinskis was really up against it.
Riga 2000 showed its skill and experience against the younger ASK/Ogre team. Just a few minutes later, again on a power play, Cipulis scored from Artis Abols' pass. After that the wind was pretty much knocked out of ASK/Ogre, which did all they could to keep from falling behind even further.
Even with a man up on a four on three power play, ASK/Ogre wasn't able to convert the opportunity into a goal, but then with less then three minutes left in the second period Tjoluskins scored with a glorious long shot. It was exactly what the ASK/Ogre players needed to get themselves and the crowd back into the game. Less then a minute later, on another fluke shot at goal, Eriks Bisenieks scored again for ASK/Ogre, setting up a thrilling third period.
ASK/Ogre started the third period with a man down, because of a penalty in the second period, but that didn't last long as a trip from Riga 2000 made the game four versus four. But even with only four players on the ice, Bisenieks managed to score again. In the 53rd minute Abols got one back, making it 3-3. With just six minutes left on the clock, both teams were playing with the energy and passion that you would expect from the final game of the season.
Toward the end of the period, with overtime looming, the line changes started occuring more and more. Then in the final two minutes, Abols took advantage of some bad goalkeeping from Zabotinskis and clinched the game for Riga 2000 4-3. So after a lull of three years, in which time Liepaja Metalurgs reigned supreme, Riga 2000 were once again crowned champions.
After the game was over, LHF awards were dished out in a special ceremony. ASK/Ogre goalie Dmitrijs Zabotinskis took the prize for best goalie, Vents Feldmanis for best defensive player for Liepajas Metalurgs and Martins Cipulis from Riga 2000 for best offensive player.
Off the ice rink, there were fears that the LHF would fold altogether, as the top three teams, HK Riga 2000, ASK/Ogre and FHK Liepajas Metalurgs had decided to quit the Eastern European Hockey League (EEHL) on grounds that they needed to compete at a higher level.
The three teams had been looking to play in the Belarusian league next season instead. But according to BNS, an agreement was reached between the hockey leagues of Russia, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia on March 29, temporarily securing the continuing participation of the Latvian contingent.
