Tigers’ Hodass goes 4-1 with Latvia at World Juniors D1 tournament

By JAMES TUBB on December 23, 2021.

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb

James Tubb

jtubb@medicinehatnews.com

Twitter:ReporterTubb

The Medicine Hat Tigers were represented well on the international stage this early winter.

Import defenceman Bogdans Hodass suited up for Latvia in the IIHF World Junior Championship Division I tournament in Denmark that ran from Dec. 12-18.

The Division I tournament is a tier below the under-20 world junior tournament that Team Canada plays in every year. The winner of the D1 tournament gets promoted to play alongside the top 10 teams at the next year’s World Juniors.

Hodass’ Latvian team finished the round robin in second place and won silver after having four wins and a narrow 2-1 defeat against Belarus. The Belarus team beat Norway 3-2 in the final game of the round robin to finish atop the standings and a place at the main tournament next year.

The 18-year-old Hodass had three assists in Latvia’s five tournament games. He missed five Tigers games while donning the Latvian colours.

When asked last Thursday about Hodass representing Latvia at the World Juniors, Medicine Hat Tigers head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins said it’s not a surprise he did well and is excited to have him back in the Hat.

“He’s a good player, played well for us and put up good numbers for us,” Desjardins said. “It’s not surprising that he’s doing well over there. We miss him here and we look forward to him coming back.”

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