RIGA – Latvian national team coach Olegs Znaroks announced at a press conference the 26 players who will represent the team at the 2009 World Championship.

The roster includes 15 players from the Latvian KHL team Dinamo Riga, one player from another KHL team and four players from North America including NHLers Martins Karsums and Karlis Skrastins, who joined the camp on Monday. Oskars Bartulis, who has been named to the roster too, might join the team for the qualification round.

Latvia will play Sweden, the United States and Austria in the Preliminary Round.

The Latvian roster as of April 20

Goalkeepers: Edgars Masalskis (Duisburg, GER), Sergejs Naumovs (Dinamo Riga), Dmitrijs Zabotinskis (Liepajas Metalurgs).

Defencemen: Aleksandrs Jerofejevs (Neftekhimik, RUS), Georgijs Pujacs (Dinamo Riga), Olegs Sorokins (Dinamo Riga), Guntis Galvins (Dinamo Riga), Krisjanis Redlihs (Dinamo Riga), Jekabs Redlihs (Plzen, CZE), Rodrigo Lavins (Dinamo Riga), Kristaps Sotnieks (Dinamo Riga), Karlis Skrastins (Florida Panthers, NHL), Oskars Bartulis (Philadelphia Phantoms, AHL).

Forwards: Lauris Darzins (Dinamo Riga), Mikelis Redlihs (Dinamo Riga), Herberts Vasiljevs (Krefeld, GER), Aigars Cipruss (Dinamo Riga), Aleksandrs Nizivijs (Dinamo Riga), Martins Karsums (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL), Janis Sprukts (Rochester Americans, AHL), Girts Ankipans (Dinamo Riga), Guntis Dzerins (Martin, SVK), Aleksejs Sirokovs (Dinamo Riga), Martins Cipulis (Dinamo Riga), Armands Berzins (Dinamo Riga), Roberts Jekimovs (Brynäs, SWE).