Riga is the capital of Latvia and is home to 627,487 inhabitants (2020), which is a third of Latvia's population. Being significantly larger than other cities of Latvia, Riga is the country's primate city. It is also the largest city in the three Baltic states and is home to one tenth of the three Baltic states' combined population. The city lies on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava river where it meets the Baltic Sea. Riga's territory covers 307.17 km2 (118.60 sq mi) and lies 1–10 m above sea level, on a flat and sandy plain.
Artūrs Irbe is a Latvian professional ice hockey coach and former goaltender. Born during the Soviet era, Irbe played for various Soviet league teams and the Soviet Union national team before moving to North America in 1991. Irbe played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks and Carolina Hurricanes. In 2004 Irbe returned to Europe to play until he retired in 2007. He has served as a goaltending coach with Dinamo Riga, the Washington Capitals and the Buffalo Sabres, as well as internationally with the Latvia men's national ice hockey team.
Sandis Ozoliņš, commonly spelled Sandis Ozolinsh in North America, is a Latvian former professional ice hockey player and coach. During his career in North America, Ozoliņš was a seven-time NHL All-Star, Stanley Cup champion, and Norris Trophy finalist. He is also the all-time leader for goals, assists, points and games played by a Latvian in the NHL and holds several Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks franchise records. Ozoliņš also was the highest paid sportsman in Latvian history, before NBA basketball player Andris Biedriņš succeeded him in 2008. He became the head coach of Dinamo in 2017.
Helmuts Balderis-Sildedzis is a retired Latvian ice hockey player. He played right wing.
Sportin Latvia includes basketball, football, ice hockey, athletics (track), rugby, tennis, cycling, and others. Ice hockey is historically the most popular of the Latvian sports and is closely followed by basketball. Some of Latvia’s most notable athletes include hockey player Sandis Ozoliņš, football player Māris Verpakovskis, olympic javelin thrower Jānis Lūsis, two-time Olympic BMX champion Maris Strombergs, and basketball player Kristaps Porziņģis. National sport of Latvia is Ice Hockey.
The Latvian men's national ice hockey team represents Latvia in international ice hockey. The team is ranked 10th in the world by IIHF as of 2019. The team is controlled by the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation. Their best ever finish at the World Championships was 7th place in 1997, 2004 and 2009. At the 2018 World Championship the team finished 8th. Latvia reached the quarterfinals at the 2014 Winter Olympics, losing 2–1 to Canada. Latvia has 7,145 registered players.
Ģirts Ankipāns is a retired Latvian ice hockey player and coach. Currently he serves as the head coach of Dinamo Riga in KHL.
Edgars Masaļskis is a Latvian ice hockey coach and former player. Playing as a goaltender, Masaļskis represented the Latvian national team, and has played for a number of clubs, with five seasons in Liepājas Metalurgs as his longest stay at any club. He retired after the 2016–17 season, and joined Dinamo Riga's coaching staff on October 2, 2017.
Armands Bērziņš is a Latvian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for HK Prizma Riga of the Optibet Hockey League. He played for Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League and HPK of the Finnish SM-liiga. He was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, 155th overall. Internationally Bērziņš has played for the Latvian national team at multiple tournaments, including the 2006, 2010, and 2014 Winter Olympics.
Miķelis Rēdlihs is a Latvian professional ice hockey forward, currently playing for Dinamo Riga of Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He has played for Latvian national team in the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 World Championships. Two of Miķelis Rēdlihs' brothers also are hockey players - Jēkabs Rēdlihs and Krišjānis Rēdlihs.
Herberts Vasiļjevs is a retired Latvian professional ice hockey player who played as a center and right winger. In the course of his playing career, he saw action in 51 NHL contests and spent more than ten years playing in the German DEL with Krefeld Pinguine. He represented the Latvian national teams at three Olympic Games.
Krišjānis Rēdlihs is a Latvian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for HK Kurbads of the Latvian Hockey League (LHL).
Kaspars Astašenko was a Latvian professional ice hockey player. Astašenko was born in Riga, Latvia. Astašenko was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, 127th overall. Astašenko played parts of two seasons in the National Hockey League with the Lightning.
The Latvian Ice Hockey Federation, commonly abbreviated as LHF is the governing body that oversees ice hockey in Latvia, including the Latvian Hockey Higher League, the Latvia women's national ice hockey team and the Latvia men's national ice hockey team. It was founded in 1931 and was admitted to the IIHF the same year.
Kristaps Sotnieks is a Latvian professional ice-hockey defenseman. He currently plays for Dinamo Riga in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
The Latvian women's national ice hockey team represents Latvia at the International Ice Hockey Federation's IIHF World Women's Championships and is controlled by the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation. Latvia had 74 female players in 2018.
Ronalds Ķēniņš is a Latvian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for Lausanne HC of the National League (NL). He previously played for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Zemgus Girgensons is a Latvian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 14th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. With this selection, Girgensons became the highest-drafted Latvian in NHL history, 16 spots higher than previous highest selection, Sandis Ozoliņš, in 1991. In the previous year, Girgensons was selected in the second round, 28th overall, in the 2011 Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) Junior Draft by CSKA Moscow.
Teodors Bļugers is a Latvian professional ice hockey forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 52nd overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Penguins, making him the third-highest selected Latvian hockey player in the NHL Entry Draft, behind Zemgus Girgensons and Sandis Ozoliņš.
HK Kurbads is an ice hockey team based in Riga, Latvia. It is a member of the Latvian Hockey Higher League and also compete for the Latvian Cup, winning Latvian Hockey League in 2016–17 and 2017–18 season. The team played its home games at Vidzemes Ledus Halle in Ogre until 2017 when the new arena was built in Rumbula, Riga.
