Hockey in Latvia has been reborn with the help of the Lithuania Hockey Federation.
Earlier this month, enthusiasts from the Latvian Bandy Club ‘Centra’ instigated a friendly hockey match with Lithuanian neighbours HC Klevas Siauliai. The match ended 4-1 to HC Klevas Siauliai but with the guests having made an excellent impression on their first time out. Player of the match was Andris Jansons.
LOIHF President Gatis Leimanis and Secretary-General Andris Janson said after match that the plan for the near future is to install a hockey turf pitch in the suburb of Riga, a move that has been greeted with approval by school heads.
Their vision is to play bandy in the winter and in the summer - hockey. Thereby seeing a continuation of sport throughout the year.
Latvijas lauka un telpa hokeja federacija (LLTHF) – the Latvian Hockey Federation officially registered in October this year, and are responsible for the development of all disciplines of hockey in Latvia and the International Area. The first Latvian hockey championship is scheduled to be held in 2017.
Lithuania Hockey Federation President and European Hockey Federation Executive Board member, Leonardas Čaikauskas who was a guest at the match said; "It is good news that the baltic region will have more opponents. We already plan in 2016 to hold Hockey5s in the Baltic countries tournament with Latvian, Estonian, Finnish and Swedish teams taking part.
