It was a hard-fought game, but Latvia lost 5-3 to Germany on May 12, missing out on a spot in the quarterfinals and ending its run in the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Canada.

To get to the quarterfinals, Latvia had to beat Germany, while Norway had to lose to the United States. Earlier in the day, the U.S. team thrashed Norway 9-1, giving hope to Latvian fans.

Latvia scored first against Germany in the game played in Halifax. At 5 minutes, 1 second into the first period, Herberts Vasiļjevs dropped the puck past German goaltender Dimitrij Patzold, according to game statistics provided by the IIHF. Mārtīņš Karsums and Rodrigo Laviņš earned the assists. Germany responded at 18:45 on a power play, when Christopher Schmidt scored against Latvian goaltender Edgars Masaļskis. Christoph Ullman was credited with the assist.

At 5:48 into the second period, Miķelis Rēdlihs scored for Latvia, but two minutes later Germany’s M. Wolf answered with help from Christoph Schubert, tying up the game at 2-2.

Latvia’s hopes were lifted at 11:39 into the second period when Karsums’ goal moved the team ahead 3-2. Aleksandrs Niživijs and Vasiļjevs were credited with the assist.

But the middle of the third period proved fatal for Latvia. Germany scored three times just minutes apart, beginning with Schubert’s goal at 7:51 into the period. Florian Busch and Andreas Renz got the assists. Yannic Seidenberg, aided by Ullmann and Renz, scored next, lifting Germany ahead 4-3. To finish off, Ullmann got his second goal of the game at 12:51, helped by Sven Felski.

Latvia recorded a total of 34 shots on goal, compared to Germany’s 29. Latvians spent 42 minutes in the penalty box, compared to the Germans’ 24.