Bruins prospect Dans Locmelis headlines Latvia's preliminary roster for 2023 World Juniors

Latvia will head to the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship looking to prove people wrong, but ultimately will likely finish bottom of their group and face a best-of-three relegation series, which if they win, will keep them in the top group for the 2024 tournament.

On Friday, the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation released their 33-man preliminary roster for the tournament, with ten cuts needing to be made before their first game on Boxing Day.

Among those on Latvia's preliminary roster are Boston Bruins prospect Dans Locmelis and Florida Panthers prospect Sandis Vilmanis, both of whom will be looked upon heavily to drive the offense.

Vilmanis is currently playing for the Sarnia Sting in the Ontario Hockey League where he's played well thus far. In 27 games, he's recorded 19 points (nine goal, ten assists), ten penalty minutes and is a minus-four.

As for Locmelis, he's tearing up the Swedish U20 league playing for Lulea HF. In 24 games, the Jelgava native has 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists), ten penalty minutes and is a plus-14. The 2022 fourth round pick of Boston has committed to playing in the NCAA for the University of Massachusetts starting next year.

Let's take a look at Latvia's preliminary roster, which includes 21 returning players from the summer World Junior tournament. If Latvia decides to take all 21 players, which is highly likely barring any injuries, they will only have two spots available on their final roster, which will probably be both on defence.

Note: * - indicates returning player

Goaltenders (4)
Patriks Bērziņš*
Linards Lipskis*
Kārlis Mežsargs*
Deivs Rolovs

Defencemen (11)
Niks Feņenko*
Bogdans Hodass*
Rihards Simanovičs*
Dario Mackevičs*
Elvis Laškovs
Edgars Kazaks
Silvestrs Lazarenoks
Artjoms Kadņikovs
Gustavs Ozoliņš*
Krišjānis Fugalis
Vladimirs Zaicevs

Forwards (18)
Rodžers Bukarts
Emīls Veckaktiņš*
Roberts Cjunskis
Dāvis Borozinskis
Martins Laviņš*
Kristiāns Samītis
Ernests Krūms
Darels Dukurs*
Rainers Dārziņš*
Ģirts Silkalns*
Artūrs Karaša*
Kristaps Kristiņš*
Rainers Rullers*
Dans Locmelis*
Sandis Vilmanis*
Klāvs Veinbergs*
Pēteris Purmalis*
Anrī Ravinskis*

Latvia will be in Group B at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship and will face the United States (December 26th), Switzerland (December 27th), Finland (December 29th) and Slovakia (December 30th).

Nosaukti Latvijas U-20 izlases kandidāti Pasaules čempionātam Kanādā: https://t.co/f7eJVlQY2D@IIHFHockey pic.twitter.com/t24o2BgYBf— LV Hokeja federācija (@lhf_lv) December 9, 2022

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