The article discusses the Latvian national team's performance in the Olympic hockey tournament, where they finished fourth in Group C after a challenging series of matches. Latvia lost to the USA but managed to secure a victory against Germany before facing another loss against Denmark. The returning National Hockey League (NHL) players have significantly altered the dynamics of the tournament, marking a notable change that hasn't been seen in over a decade.

As the round of 16 approaches, all teams are playing in a round-robin format within their groups, after which the top three teams and the best second-placed team directly qualify for the quarter-finals. The remaining eight teams will compete in qualification matches on February 17 to fill the remaining quarter-final spots on February 18. The format emphasizes that the opening games will not serve as warm-ups, adding to the tournament's competitive spirit.

Latvia is fielding its strongest possible roster to maximize its chances in the knockout stages. With NHL players re-entering the Olympics, this could provide Latvia with a heightened competitive edge. As teams prepare for critical matches, fans and analysts alike are eager to see if Latvia can capitalize on this new opportunity and make a meaningful run in the tournament.