Latvia saw the Czech Republic put Petr Nedved, 42, on its roster and countered with seven-time NHL All-Star Sandis Ozolinsh, who is 41 and has been out of the NHL since 2008.
Ozolinsh has been around so long that he played for the Soviet Union team in juniors in 1991. He went on to play for Latvia at the 2002 and 2006 Olympics, retiring from international play after Torino but coming back to help it qualify for Sochi.
On the other end of the Latvian spectrum is forward Zemgus Girgensons, 19, of the Buffalo Sabres. Latvia’s coach is Ted Nolan, the current Sabres interim coach.
Olympic hockey rosters: U.S. | Canada | Russia | Sweden | Finland | Czech Republic | Slovakia | Switzerland | Latvia | Norway | Austria | Slovenia
Latvia is unlikely to make it to the quarterfinals of the 12-team tournament, a fate it suffered in the last three Olympics.
Here’s the full Latvia roster:
Goalies
Kristers Gudlevskis — former Tampa Bay Lightning player
Edgars Masalskis
Ervins Mustukovs
Defensemen
Oskars Bartulis — former Philadelphia Flyers player
Sandis Ozolinsh — former NHL player
Ralfs Freibergs
Arturs Kulda
Georgijs Pujacs
Krisjanis Redlihs
Arvids Rekis
Kristaps Sotnieks
Forwards
Zemgus Girgensons — Buffalo Sabres
Kaspars Daugaviņs — former NHL player
Armands Berzins
Martins Cipulis
Lauris Darzins
Miks Indrasis
Koba Jass
Martins Karsums
Ronalds Kenins
Vitalijs Pavlovs
Mikelis Redlihs
Janis Sprukts
Juris Stals
Herberts Vasiljevs
Hockey player breaks record for span between Winter Olympics