Rīga is playing host to eight teams for the group stages with Tampere doing likewise in Finland.
Eight teams descend on Riga to play in Group B of the 2023 #IIHFWorlds, but only four of them will advance to the quarter-finals.✊
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 11, 2023
Read full Group B preview 👉 https://t.co/H4Zs4FsE2z pic.twitter.com/nU4dU8aC2Z
As usual Latvian Television (LTV) will provide viewers with lengthy pre- and post-match discussions in the LTV7 Hockey studio before and after the games of the Latvian national team as well as live commentary during the action. All games of the Latvian national team will be shown on LTV7, REplay.lv and LSM.lv.
Latvian's first match should be an exciting one against the powerful Canadian national team and starts just after 8 p.m. Rīga time.
Latvia has consistently played in the elite group since the 1997 tournament in Finland, reaching the quarter-finals multiple times but never aking the semis. This time, Latvia will play in subgroup B in Rīga together with Canada, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, Slovenia and Kazakhstan.
In the group stage, points must be collected in seven games to be among the top four teams and continue the fight in the quarterfinals and then, hopefully the latter stages of the tournament.
Latvian national team games in the group stage
May 12 at 20.10 Latvia - Canada (LTV7 Hockey Studio at 19.30)
May 13 at 20.10 Latvia - Slovakia (LTV7 Hockey Studio at 19.30)
May 15 at 20.10 Latvia - Czech Republic (LTV7 Hockey Studio at 19.30)
May 17 at 16.10 Latvia - Norway (LTV7 Hockey studio at 15.30)
May 19 at 16.10 Latvia - Slovenia (LTV7 Hockey Studio at 15.30)
May 20 at 20.10 Latvia - Kazakhstan (LTV7 Hockey Studio at 19.30)
May 23 at 20.10 Latvia - Switzerland (LTV7 Hockey studio at 19.30)
For more details you can refer to LTV's dedicated ice hockey section and the official website of the championship.
