Poland and Latvia face off in their Group B openers in the 2024 IIHF World Championships in Ostrava, Czechia.
Poland completed a two-year climb from Division I-B back to the top division last year, finishing second at the Division I-A championships in Nottingham, England. On Saturday, the Poles take on Latvia to open their Group B schedule at Ostrava Arena in Czechia. Latvia comes off its first-ever medal at the IIHF World Championships last year, winning the bronze as the host nation. Poland’s best finishes were fourth-place endings in 1931 and 1932. The teams have just one NHL player between them at this year’s tournament, with Poland claiming one player from the Western Hockey League in major juniors and the Latvians with a player in the NCAA.
How to Watch Poland vs. Latvia in 2024 IIHF World Championships Today:
Game Date: May 10, 2024
Game Time: 10 a.m. ET
TV: NHL Network
Live stream the Poland vs. Latvia Group B game from the 2024 IIHF World Championships on Fubo: Start your free trial today!
Latvia looks to Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzļikins, who last appeared on the nation’s world championship roster in 2022. Artūrs Šilovs backstopped Latvia to the bronze medal last year, but is unavailable this time around with the Vancouver Canucks still in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Kaspars Daugaviņš, a 35-year-old winger who scored 11 goals and 54 points in 48 games for Michalovce Dukla in the Slovakian Extraleague, captains the club.
Polish left wing Krzysztof Maciaś, who turns 20 next week, scored 22 goals with 45 points in 65 games in his first season with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders this season. Krystian Dziubiński, 35, played this season with Unia Oświęcim in Poland and captains the national team.
Poland and Latvia are competing with France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Sweden and the United States for one of the top four spots in Group B and a berth in the knockout stage.
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