With its 3-1 defeat of Slovenia, Latvia’s ice hockey team will join Canada and the United States in advancing to the qualifying round of the 2005 World Championships in Austria.

Latvia’s first goal in the May 5 game came 12:17 into the first period, when during a power play Mārtiņš Cipulis hit the puck past Slovenian goaltender Gaber Glavic, according to a game summary posted on IHWC.net.

Nearly six minutes into the second period, Atvars Tribuncovs scored Latvia’s second goal. Slovenia’s Jurij Golicic scored against Latvian goaltender Artūrs Irbe to get his team’s only point.

With less than a half-minute left to play, Ģirts Ankipāns got one more goal for Latvia in the third period.

Latvia tallied more opportunities to score, according to game statistics, with 39 shots on goal compared to Slovenia’s 22.

A total of 6,300 spectators watched the game in Innsbruck’s Olympiahalle, according to IHWC.net.

Latvia’s first game in the qualifying round will be May 7 against Ukraine.

(CORRECTED 08 MAY 2005)