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Latvia won its first ever World Championship medal after edging past team USA in overtime to secure bronze in Tampere.

A third period fightback lifted Canada to victory over Latvia and sends Andre Tourigny’s team to its fourth World Championship final in a row. However, the Latvians pushed the Canadians all the way, twice leading in a hard-fought battle in Tampere.

Latvia reached its first ever World Championship semi-final after a stunning win over Sweden. Two days after Arena Riga partied into the night as the co-host secured a playoff spot in dramatic style, there was even greater jubilation after a 3-1 victory over the Tre Kronor set up a clash with Canada in the final four.

Several former and current KHL players are competing at this year’s World Championships.

With 5:04 left on the clock in regulation time, Kaspars Daugavins scored a goal that raised the roof at Arena Riga. The Latvian captain delivered a tying goal for his country in a vital game against Switzerland, earning the point that put the co-hosts into the quarter final. A power play goal in the extras saw Rudolfs Balcers crown a memorable evening beside the Baltic.

Two late goals grabbed a 4-3 victory over Slovenia as Kazakhstan signed off at the 2023 World Championship. Monday’s match-up was a dead rubber as far as the competition was concerned, with Slovenia already relegated and Kazakhstan unable to make the playoffs. However, it produced an entertaining game with both teams looking to finish on a high note.

Sunday’s opening game in Riga was a big one for Kazakhstan. If Slovenia failed to get at least a point from its meeting with Slovakia, the Kazakhs would be safe from relegation regardless of its match-up against the Slovenes on Monday.

Latvia’s push for a playoff place continues after a crushing 7-0 victory over Kazakhstan. The win gives the co-host a six-point cushion over fifth-placed Slovakia, but the champagne corks can’t start popping just yet. Slovakia would have the head-to-head advantage in the event of a tie and has winnable games against Slovenia and Norway to come. Thus the Latvians could still need a point against undefeated Switzerland in the final game to book a quarter-final spot.

Kazakhstan took a huge step towards securing its top division status at this year’s IIHF World Championship with a surprise victory over Slovakia on Friday evening.

Roman Cervenka potted the Czech Republic’s game-winner over Slovenia. His team had to come from 0-2 to record a 6-2 verdict. That fightback was warmly welcomed by Kazakhstan, which remains two points clear of the as yet winless Slovenians.

Kazakhstan suffered a second heavy loss in 24 hours, going down 5-1 to Canada. That follows a 0-5 loss to Switzerland the night before.

Kazakhstan suffered a heavy loss to Switzerland in its third game at the 2023 World Championship. The Swiss posted a third straight shut-out to secure a 5-0 verdict and move to the top of the Group B standings.

Oskars Batna got Latvia off the mark with a winner 44 seconds from the end of an enthralling overtime period against the Czech Republic.

After an impressive opening win over Norway, Kazakhstan came back down to earth in its second game at the 2023 World Championship. A 1-5 loss against the Czech Republic leaves the Kazakhs with two points from two games in Riga, good for fifth place in Group B.

Day two of the 2023 World Championship saw Kazakhstan’s first game. This year’s Kazakh roster is shorn of the dual-nationals who have dominated in recent years. Instead, there’s a chance for home-grown talent to emerge from the Kazakh championship and prove its worth.

Gagarin Cup winner Lars Johansson, now 35, set an unlikely record for Sweden in a 1-0 victory over Germany at the start of the 2023 IIHF World Championship. This was his first game in a World Championship for the Tre Kronor, and at 35 years, 305 days, the former CSKA man is the oldest Swedish goalie to make a debut in this competition.