A Latvian hockey team on a three-city exhibition tour of the American Midwest finished with a 0-3 record in games against university squads in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
HK Rīga 2000, the Latvian team, fell 2-5 against the Bulldogs of the University of Minnesota – Duluth in a game played Dec. 15, according to the Duluth News-Tribune.
The Latvian team’s tour was organized by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. In an interview with the News-Tribune, Coach Mats Erik Ulander said six of his of players, including two stars, were injured and remained in Latvia.
The Latvian players ranged in age from 15-year-old Kaspars Daugaviņš to 31-year-old Grigors Panteļejevs. Captain of the team is Ronalds Ozoliņš, brother of Sandis Ozoliņš of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks of the National Hockey League.
HK Rīga 2000 also lost 1-7 in a Dec. 11 game against the Gophers of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, and 2-3 in a Dec. 9 game against the Badgers of the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Plenty of Latvian fans were in the stands for these game, according to reports.
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