On February 19, members of the Latvian national hockey team returned home from the Winter Olympic Games held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The return was marked by the arrival of several key players, including Kristaps Zīle, Kaspars Daugaviņš, and Oskars Batnja, alongside the coaching staff and support crew. These athletes represented Latvia in a highly competitive tournament, showcasing their skills and determination.

The Latvian team finished in 10th place out of 12 competing teams, narrowly surpassing France and Italy, which ended the tournament without any victories. The team's journey included a series of challenging matches, starting with a formidable loss against the USA, followed by a victory over Germany, and concluding with a defeat to Denmark. Their performance showcased both the team's potential and the fierce competition faced at the Olympic level.

In the playoff round, the Latvian team faced a tough opponent in Sweden, suffering another loss that prevented them from advancing to the quarter-finals. Despite the overall performance not meeting the highest expectations, the return home reflects the resilience and commitment of the players and staff, who showcased their talent on an international stage and will continue to build on this experience for future competitions.