First round of Carpathian Junior Hockey League, Eagles division, "red" group is coming. We spoke with Oskars Kupcis, team manager of HC Ogre Juniors, Latvia.

HC Ogre Juniors is a new team in Carpathian Junior Hockey League. We already bring information about your club before. But what you could tell us about your national championship?

There are 19 teams splitted in 2 divisions under age U15. Our team age is U14 but as there is no such group of age in Latvian championship we are playing group B under U15. There shall be played 27 games in local championship this season.

Tell us something more about hockey in your country, especially about youth and junior hockey.

Ice hockey is sport number 1 in our country and our youth teams are playing top 10 in the world. The development of ice hockey rapidly was started in early 2000 and since then more than 15 ice halls was constructed. Despite of large investments in infrastructure we shall note that junior ice hockey is mainly financed by parents and in some cases - by local governments. Ice hockey federetion of Latvia mainly concentrates on Latvian national team.

How you got known about CJHL?

There was invitation from Slovakian friends and we decided to achieve new experience.

Was your deciding about participation in Carpathian Junior Hockey League hard? What you had to take into consideration to join League? What was
the main reason of your decision to take part in this competition?

As mentioned before this is new experience for our team as well new possibilities for kids to play with foreign teams and in meantime to visit countries where they haven´t visit before.

What are your expectations? Do you think that this international competition could help your players to get on higher level?

Our team is composed from boys born in years 2005 and 2006. The competition with boys born in year 2004 brings huge experience, thus can help be more competitive in local championship.

What we can expect from your team, what style of hockey you prefer?

We are playing contact hockey and of course our target for the first year of competition is to be in final 6.

In your group you will play against teams from Slovakia, Ukraine, Poland and Serbia. In both groups of CJHL U15 we have together 12 teams. What is your goal,  with which result you will be satisfied in the end of the season?

We have not any experience with Carpathian league teams but of course main target is to win the championship. What will happen in reality - time will show but we are not come here to be statists in championship.

What's your wish to all players of CJHL for this season?

We wish to any of players to develop their skills by participating in CJHL and in advance to gaming, to establish the life time freindship between the guys of different nationalities.