Czech Republic - Latvia quick facts

Do you know:

1. Latvia has not won a men’s ice hockey tournament game since the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games
2. The Czech Republic lost their tournament opener to Sweden 4-2. NHL goaltender Ondrej Pavelec may get the start against Latvia.
3. Jaromir Jagr scored a goal in the Czech defeat against Sweden. The veteran has now scored goals in five Olympic Games.
4. The Czech Republic beat Latvia twice at Vancouver 2010. The Czechs won their preliminary round game 5-2 and and earned a 3-2 overtime victory in their quarterfinal match.
5. Since Vancouver 2010, they have met three times at the world championships, with the Czechs winning all three contests.
6. Latvia has never beaten the Czechs in international competition. In nine meetings, the Czech have won eight times and tied once.
7. The oldest player on the Latvian roster is Sandis Ozolins, 41, who will play in his third Winter Olympic Games. He retired from the Latvian team following Torino 2006, only to return in Latvia's run-up to Sochi 2014. Ozolins also represented the Soviet Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States in the early stages of his international career. However, he has never gone to the Olympics with another side other than Latvia.
   

Quote of the game:  

Ted Nolan (LAT coach) "We’re going to play the same way. I think we've got to bring our work ethic. I think as the game against Switzerland went, we felt a little bit more comfortable, a little bit more confident in ourselves. We've got a pretty good team with a good group of guys. They started believing that they could win that game against Switzerland in the second period. We've just got to ride forward with that."

Radko Gudas (Czech defender at his first Olympics, not played in Czech debut due to illness and is still uncertain for game against Latvia): What can I say, it's terrible! I look forward to the nominations announcement. Do not wish it to anyone. It was a disappointment, but I'm trying to get back.Doctors gave me everything. Mainly vitamins. I have to sleep and sweat "

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