Next season, Mestis will join Latvia’s reigning champion HK Zemgale.
During his career, Artis Abols has worked as a head coach in two KHL teams, Lada Togliatti and Riga Dynamo. In the starting season, the man brings Zemgale’s team to Mesti. Petteri Paalasmaa
Zemgale’s head coach is Artis Abols. The man also coaches the Latvian under-20 national team.
Abols led his country to historic success in Edmonton. Not once before has Latvia reached the quarter-final stage in the age group World Cup tournament.
The former KHL head coach is happy to go to Finland with his club team.
– The decision was not our club’s alone. The Latvian Ice Hockey Federation and, of course, the Finns were also involved in the discussions, Abols tells Iltalehte.
– This project will definitely help our players develop. In particular, it helps players over the age of 20 to take the next step from junkies to the professional level. It will surely help the Latvian national team a little later, the 49-year-old coach with a dull face reflects.
Heavy KHL
KHL hockey was played in Riga for a long time. When Russia attacked Ukraine in February, Dynamo Riga withdrew from the series, just like Jokerit did.
– The KHL games were a great thing for the public. But it’s hard to develop players there. In that series, we play and play, the longest flight is 11 hours to Khabarovsk.
– There you play and rest, there is no time left for training and player development, says Abols, who also played in Finland in his time.
Abols has been a head coach in the KHL at Lada Togliat and Riga Dynamo.
It will be interesting
Harijs Brants (right) will be a Mestis player next season. ZUMAWIRE / MVPHOTOS
Five players from Latvia’s under-20 World Cup team will represent Zemgale next season.
Defender Harijs Brants is one of them.
– I’m excited, it will be interesting. This whole thing will be a good thing for Latvian ice hockey.
Jelgava, Zemgale’s hometown, is located roughly 40 kilometers south of Riga. So Latvians get used to traveling during the Mestis season.
– It can be a bit heavy, but it’s not a problem, the player assures.
Latvian reigning champion HK Zemgale was founded in 2002 and played 17 seasons in the Latvian premier league. The team’s home hall can hold around 1,500 spectators.
Mestis also negotiates with other foreign clubs. The next potential member of Mesti will come from Estonia.