USA Loses to Latvia in Bronze-Medal Game at Ice Hockey World Championship 2023
May 28, 2023
TAMPERE, FINLAND - MAY 28: Team USA defeated by Latvia during the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Finland - Latvia game between USA and Latvia at Nokia Arena on May 28, 2023 in Tampere, Finland. (Photo by Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Following a disappointing overtime loss to Germany in the 2023 IIHF World Hockey Championship semi-finals, Team USA was looking to secure a bronze medal against Latvia. Instead, the Americans are feeling déjà vu.
Entering the third period tied at two, a goal from Calgary Flames prospect Matthew Coronato put the U.S. up by one with under 14 minutes remaining.
After this, Latvian defenseman Kristians Rubins took over. The Flames prospect scored with just over five minutes left to send the game to overtime and capitalized earlier in the extra frame to send Latvia home with a 4-3 victory and the bronze medal.
The victory gave Latvia it's first top-three finish in tournament history. This was a fact that was not taken for granted by the team, especially for forward Miks Indrašis.
"For the big teams like Canada, this is what they do," Indrašis said. (via Lucas Aykroyd of IIHF.com) "They win medals all the time. But for us, it's like a one-time opportunity. This is unreal."
While the victory was huge for Latvia, the loss is extremely painful for the Americans. After a loss in the bronze medal game last season, the team came in this year with lofty goals. They went undefeated in their first eight games and looked like a contender to end a 90-year gold medal drought at the tournament.
Instead, back-to-back heartbreaking losses sends the team home without a medal. Buffalo Sabres forward Alec Tuch reflected on this, stating how just a few tough bounces can totally change a team's trajectory.
"Hockey's a game of inches," Tuch said. "Anyone can be beaten on any given day and Latvia got it today and they beat us."
Rocco Grimaldi, who is in the Chicago Blackhawks organization and won gold at the 2012-13 World Junior Championships with USA, said that he was happy for Latvia despite his team losing in the final game.
"You could see what this means to them," Grimaldi said of Latvia. "I think they probably wanted it little more than we did. We said after the first period, we have to want it as much as they do because they're playing like it was for a gold medal, not just a bronze. I don't think we matched their intensity for the full 60."
Canada defeated Germany 5-2 in the Gold Medal Game. This was their 28th championship in tournament history.
Kristaps Porzingis Says He Won't Play for Latvia at Rio 2016 Olympics Qualifier
May 2, 2016
March 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during a stoppage in play against Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis will not play for the Latvia national team in the qualifying tournament for the 2016 Rio Olympics, he announced at a Monday press conference.
Reinis Lacis of AtTheHive.com and Al Iannazzone of Newsday reported the news, with Iannazzone noting that Porzingis stated he "wanted to work on getting stronger and his overall game."
Porzingis, 20, averaged 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a rookie. He missed the season's last seven games with a shoulder injury, which may have played into his decision to skip international competition.
Latvia is scheduled to play in the qualifier in July. The country is part of a group with Japan and the Czech Republic that will make a trip to Serbia hoping to earn one of the last trips to Rio. Latvia's basketball side has not made an Olympic appearance since 1936 and counts Porzingis as its only current NBA player.
It's clear, at least for now, Porzingis is prioritizing his stateside commitment over trying to end Latvia's Olympic drought. The Knicks (particularly interim coach Kurt Rambis) were open about their desire for him to forgo international competition.
“If I had my choice, I think it’s obvious what I want,” Rambis said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. “But I understand a player’s commitments to their country and their desires to play for their country. I understand all that. But from a selfish standpoint, looking at it purely from a Knicks standpoint, yeah, we want him here with us the whole time.”
Rambis has not been formally named the Knicks' full-time coach, so it's unclear if his words had much sway. But he is seen as a direct link to team president Phil Jackson. The pair are good friends and share many of the same basketball philosophies (hello, triangle offense). If Rambis was comfortable publicly pushing Porzingis in a certain direction, it's likely Jackson was OK with him doing so.
“When you’re playing, you go back to your strengths, you go back to your instincts," Rambis said, per Bondy. "So a lot of training and developing and changing your game can happen over the summer. But sometimes playing can be bad if you’re doing too much of it. And it’s not conducive to player development.”
For as much praise as Porzingis rightfully received for his play, Rambis isn't wrong about his young protege's need for improvement. Porzingis desperately needs to add strength to become a better defensive player, and adding more consistency to his three-point shot is paramount to his offensive development.
Even before the shoulder injury, it was clear the NBA grind was starting to get to him. Porzingis had his worst shooting month in March, and his rebounding rate was below his season average each of the last two months. Working on building his body should help him avoid a similar dip in performance next season.
