ice hockey world cup
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Hosts Latvia surprised by victory against Canada
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Latvian players cheer after scoring 2-0 against Canada.
Photo: AP/Sergey Grits
Riga Hosts Latvia produced the first major surprise at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Riga. The team around Krefeld del striker Martins Karsams defeated Canada 2–0 (1–0, 1–0, 0–0) in their opening game in German Group B.
After the first day, Latvia is second only to the German national team.
In Group A, record world champions Russia started with a hard-fought 4:3 (1:1, 1:1, 2:1) against the Czech Republic. Slovakia topped the table with a 5:2 (3:0, 0:0, 2:2) against Belarus.
Mix Indrasis and Oscar Batna (29th) scored two seconds before the first third siren (20th) for the Latvians, who celebrated their first World Cup victory against the ice hockey homeland in their 13th attempt. While the hosts provide the oldest team in the tournament, the Canadians provide the youngest team. The big NHL stars are missing, but the team mainly consists of highly talented talent.
Anton Burdasso (5th), Artzom Schvez-Rogovoi (36th), Alexander Barabano (46th) and Mikhail Grigorenko scored 19 seconds before the end (60th) for Russia, who have only six NHL professionals. Jacob Fleck (10th), Jakob Vrna (38th) and Dominic Kubalik (58th) were successful for the Czechs.
The Slovak goals were scored by Kristian Pospisil (4th/12th), Peter Sehlerik (10th/59th) and Marek Hrivik (46th). Mikhail Stefanovitsch (54th) and Yegor Sharangovich (55th) went short for Belarus.
