Host Latvia produced the first major surprise at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Riga. The team around Krefeld DEL striker Martins Karsams beat co-favorite Canada 2–0 (1–0, 1–0, 0–0) in their opening game in German Group B and behind the German national team after the first is. Second place on the day.
In Group A, the record world champion Russia started with a hard-fought 4: 3 (1: 1, 1: 1, 2: 1) against the Czech Republic. Slovakia took the lead in the table against Belarus with a 5: 2 (3: 0, 0: 0, 2: 2).
Two seconds before the first third siren (20th) Mix Indrasis and Oscar Batna (29th) scored goals for the Latvians, who celebrated their first World Cup victory against the ice hockey homeland in their 13th attempt. While the host team has the oldest team of the tournament, the Canadian team has brought the youngest team. The big NHL stars are missing, but the team mainly consists of highly talented talent.
19 seconds before the end (60th) Anton Burdasso (5th), Artjome Schwez-Rogovoi (36th), Alexander Barbano (46th) and Mikhail Grigorenko scored goals for Russia, who have only six NHL pros in their line-up. Jacob Flake (10th), Jacob Vrana (38th) and Dominic Kubalik (58th) were successful for the Czechs.
Slovak goals were scored by Christian Pospisil (4th / 12th), Peter Sehlrich (10th / 59th) and Marek Hrivik (7th). Mikhail Stefanovitsch (54th) and Yegor Sharangowitz (55th) shortened for Belarus.
