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Starting off the Team Previews for the 2010 Olympic Hockey Blog is the proud nation of Latvia. Usually known for... well, they're not really usually known. They're not one of hockey's superpowers, nor are they big players on the international political stage. I became aware of the nation through the goaltending of Arturs Irbe in the 1990's (and his sexy sexy equipment). Since then I've always paid a little special attention to the maroon and white underdogs each Olympic year. What they lack in star power, they make up for in passion and chemistry.
Defensemen Karlis Skrastins (Dallas) and Oskars Bartulis (Philadelphia) are the only NHL players on the roster that is mostly rounded out by players from the KHL. Captained by the Dallas Stars defensive specialist, the majority of the team's core has played together in many tournaments for years. The bulk of the roster actually plays together at the club level as well, with Dynamo Riga. In fact, 15 of the 23 players on the roster play for Riga's entry in the KHL. This familiarity lends itself to a team that is very capable of pulling off an upset or two in Vancouver... but it will be difficult, as they drew the group of Russia, Czech Republic, and Slovakia for 2010.
Key Players:
Skrastins headlines the roster as their premier shutdown defenseman. While he has very limited offensive capabilities, he's known for a trendous work ethic and dedication to doing the little things that help teams win. His personality and leadership abilities are why he's been given the captain's C, while he just block more shots than Naumovs, Mustukovs, and Masalskis put together.
The only other NHLer on the roster, Oskars Bartulis, plays a slightly more offensive game. While he should still be considered a defensive defenseman at heart, he possesses a shot that can be dangerous from the point on the powerplay. He and Skrastins should be expected to log a lot of minutes for this Latvian team, as they try to keep up with the heavyweights of the tournament.
Martins Karsums is an up and comer for the Latvian roster. Originally drafted by the Boston Bruins, and having played sparingly for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2008-09 season, he's currently part of the massive Dynamo Riga contingent on the Latvian national team. He plays more of an in-your-face North American style of game, and has the ability to put the puck in the net, as well as contribute to the team's physical play.
Aleksandrs Nizivjs is arguable the top offensive weapon for the Latvians, contributing creativity and playmaking ability that the Latvian roster is lacking. He's not overly big, and he can be physically overwhelmed at times, but when he's on top of his game, he generates much needed offense for his team. He led the team in scoring at the Torino Olympics in 2006.
The Latvian team is one to keep an eye on in Vancouver. While they're unlikely to make too much noise in the medal hunt, they're your prototypical scrappy underdogs. I used to tell people to watch Latvia just to cheer for Irbe (who has since retired, and is now coaching in the Capitals system), now I tell people to watch for the fans. The team spirit is definitely there for these road warriors. Much has been said about the dedication of Latvian hockey fans, but to truly appreciate it you have to watch their games. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so a video must be even better than that. Rather than tell you about these world-class hockey fans, I'll just attach a quick video from the Torino games.
That's the stuff that makes Olympic hockey great, folks. That's why I'm proud to be covering the Latvians for the Bloguin Olympic Hockey Blog. Stay tuned. We're only a few days away.
 Cole Jones covers the Dallas Stars at The Other 6 Seconds in addition to his work on Bloguin's Olympic Hockey Blog.
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