The champions of Latvia, hockey club “Kurbads” is getting ready for the new season and has started practicing in the new “Kurbads” ice rink.
As always, HK “Kurbads” has high goals for the season – to defend the Latvian champion’s title, to win the Latvian cup and to advance from the 2nd round of Continental cup, debuting in the international arena. A lot of high goals, but practicing on the home ice with a perfect infrastructure will help the team to achieve results needed in the upcoming season. The first serious test is just around the corner as on weekend we will participate in the “Amber Cup” tournament in Liepāja, where our opponents will be HK “Liepāja Optibet”, HK “Mogo” and Arlanda “Wings”.
“I am more than satisfied with the team’s work in practices – you can easily see that the guys are hungry for more success and are working hard,” says Aleksandrs Macijevskis, HK “Kurbads” head coach. “Practices are physically hard and intense, as in a short period of time we have to get ready for a long and important season. In our home we have all the tools we need to prepare successfully. The tournament in Liepāja will be a valuable experience but we also want to win it!”
In the offseason many players have joined HK “Kurbads” lineup – Mārtiņš Porejs, Deivids Sarkanis, Arturs Sorokins but Gatis Gricinskis has returned after one season in Austria. Sergejs Pečura and Artūrs Logunovs are still on try-out contracts. But in the upcoming season we won’t see following players – Koba Jass, Juris Upītis, Bruno Zabis, Mārtiņš Raitums, Krists Apsītis, Miks Komuls, Krišs Grundmanis and Arvils Bergmanis. We wish them all the best in their career!
“Optibet hockey league” or Latvian championship will commence on September 9th, when we will play against our rivals – hockey club “Mogo”! The 2nd round of Continental cup will take place in “Kurbads” ice rink from 20th to 22nd October.
HK Kurbads lineup:
Goalies – Uldis Čalpa, Guntars Reiss, Nils Grīnfogels.
Defensemen – Toms Bluks, Renārs Valters, Mārtiņš Gipters, Aleksandrs Galkins, Mārtiņš Porejs, Hārdijs Parādnieks, Arturs Sorokins.
Forwards – Toms Hartmanis, Gatis Gricinskis, Deivids Sarkanis, Sandis Zolmanis, Edgars Lipsbergs, Edgars Brancis, Juris Štāls, Rihards Remiņš, Toms Zeltiņš, Mārcis Zembergs, Dāvis Straupe, Jānis Straupe.
