Latvian hockey player Sandis Ozoliņš, who has been in a substance abuse and behavioral program since Dec. 29, was expected to be released from the program and could play for his homeland team in the Winter Olympics, the Los Angeles Times reported Feb. 12.

Ozoliņš, a defenseman for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks of the National Hockey League, might be able to return to the California-based team after playing in the Olympics, General Manager Brian Burke told the newspaper.

Ozoliņš, who has been battling injuries, has only played in 13 games this season, the newspaper reported. The NHL and the National Hockey League Players’ Association announced Dec. 29 that Ozoliņš voluntarily entered the substance abuse and behavioral program. Ozoliņš has a 2005-2006 contract with the Mighty Ducks valued at USD 2.75 million, according to the NHLPA.

Ozoliņš also played for Latvia during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

The Latvian hockey team’s first appearance in 2006 games is Feb. 15 when it goes up against the United States.

Ilmārs Bricis of Latvia took 19th place in the men’s 20-kilometer individual biathlon event as the first day of competition began Feb. 11 at the Winter Olympics in Italy.

Bricis finished the course in a time of 57 minutes, 19.2 seconds, according to the official Web site of the games, www.torino2006.org. In the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Bricis finished 39th, but with a faster time of 56:24.4.

The gold medal in this year’s event went to Germany’s Michael Greis, who finished the course in a time of 54:23.0. Norway’s Ole Einar Bjørndalen, a five-time Olympic champion favored by some observes to repeat a gold medal performance this time, took the silver. His teammate, Halvard Hanevold, won the bronze medal.

The biathlon event took place at Cesana San Sicario.

Latvia’s Jānis Bērziņš took 37th place with a time of 59:24.3, Kristaps Lībietis finished 69th with a time of 1:03:13.4, and Edgars Piksons finished in 80th place with a time of 1:06:12.5.

No doubt fans of the Latvian team the world over will be cheering their favorite hockey players during the Winter Olympics in Italy. But are they willing to bet money on the chances the team will return home with a gold medal?

If the odds suggested by online sports betting outlets are any guide, Latvians might as well hold onto their cash. Of course, if they’re lucky, they could win hefty sums, according to a survey of a few sports bookmakers.

On the eve of the Feb. 10 opening ceremony, Costa Rica-based Bodog.com—which bills itself as “America’s largest sports betting destination”—put the chances of Latvia’s hockey team winning gold at 125-1. That means that for every dollar bet, the customer could earn USD 125 if Latvia won the gold. In other words, the oddsmakers at Bodog.com are fairly confident Latvia won’t win.

On the other hand, the United States was getting of odds of 3-1, the Czech Republic 5-2 and Canada 11-10. At least Latvia wasn’t at the bottom. That honor at Bodog.com went to Kazakhstan at 400-1 odds.

The oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com—which claims it’s “the largest sportsbook and casino on the planet”—put Latvia’s hopes of winning gold in hockey at 150-1. Only Italy and Kazakhstan had higher odds, 250-1, according to a Feb. 2 press release from the Costa Rica-based company.

Canbet.com, based in the United Kingdom, also figured Canada would win the gold in hockey. Latvia, however, shared 500-1 odds with Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Kazakhstan.

Sportingbet.com, also based in the United Kingdom, put Latvia’s chances for gold at 150/1. And, for once, Kazakhstan was not at the bottom. Sportingbet’s oddsmakers gave Italy that honor, with a 1000/1 chance to take gold.