On Thursday, Mogo/RSU suffered a 2–3 defeat in a shootout against GKS Katowice in the second game of the IIHF Continental Cup final. In regulation time, goals for Mogo/RSU were scored by Kristers Ansons and Gints Meija, while the successful shootout attempts were converted by Niks Feņenko and Rūdolfs Maslovskis.
As in the opening game of the tournament, Mogo/RSU’s goal was guarded by Kārlis Mežsargs, while Jesper Eliasson started in net for the Polish side. The Latvian champions faced an early setback, conceding just one minute into the game. Jean Dupuis entered the zone at high speed down the left wing and beat Mežsargs with a precise shot inside the far post. In the 10th minute, Gints Meija received the puck in front of the Katowice goal, but Eliasson narrowly managed to keep it out. Juho Koivusaari was penalized for slashing, yet the best scoring chance during that power play fell to the short-handed GKS. Steven Anderson broke free from the defense, forcing Kristaps Sotnieks to commit a foul, and the referees awarded a penalty shot. Anderson attempted the shootout-style move but lost control of the puck and failed to get a shot away. Koivusaari then had a golden opportunity with the net nearly empty, but startled by Mežsargs’ movement, he hit the post. Late in the period, Ernest Krūms nearly equalized despite being hooked by Albin Runesson, but once again the puck struck the post, though the Katowice defenseman was sent to the penalty box.
Mogo/RSU were unable to capitalize on that power play bridging the end of the first period and the start of the second. However, GKS soon gave the Latvian champions even better opportunities. Within 10 seconds, Katowice players took two penalties for too many men on the ice, and 16 seconds later Zachary Hoffman cleared the puck over the glass, earning another minor for delay of game. With the extended power play, Kristers Ansons received a pass from Niks Feņenko, skated a few meters forward, and fired a precise shot to level the score. Mogo/RSU continued to play five-on-three, creating several dangerous chances. After a shot by Jānis Zemītis, Māris Bičevskis found the puck in front of goal, but Eliasson made a spectacular save. Travis Verveda then earned another penalty for blocking Ernest Krūms. During that advantage, a shot by Kaspars Ziemiņš hit the post, leaving the score tied.
Early in the third period, Sotnieks unleashed a powerful and dangerous shot, but Eliasson caught the puck with his glove despite its awkward height. After Gatis Sprukts was penalized for holding, Katowice earned their first power play of the game. A fortunate rebound helped GKS regain the lead, as Dupuis’ shot from the right circle deflected off Renarts Bērziņš’s skate and slid into the net. In the 52nd minute, Gints Meija equalized once again. The Mogo/RSU captain scored from the middle of the zone with a backhand shot over Eliasson’s right shoulder to make it 2–2.
In overtime, Rūdolfs Maslovskis and Krūms both had chances in front of the GKS goal, but neither could beat Eliasson. Anderson hit the post, and at the final buzzer Mežsargs made a save on a dangerous shot by Jonas Manto.
For the shootout, GKS head coach Jacek Płachta replaced Eliasson with Michał Kieler in goal. After the first five rounds, no winner had been decided. For GKS, Jakob Lundegaard and Bartosz Fraśko converted their attempts. Niks Feņenko produced a moment of brilliance, deceiving Kieler and sliding the puck into the net with one hand on his stick. Maslovskis also beat Kieler with a lightning-quick shot. In the sixth round, Feņenko’s attempt was saved, while Fraśko managed to slip the puck between Mežsargs’ pads, securing a 3–2 victory for GKS Katowice.
Elvis Želubovskis was named the best player for Mogo/RSU, while defenseman Błażej Chodor received the honor for GKS.
On Saturday, January 17 at 13:00, Mogo/RSU will play for fifth place against the third-ranked team from Group B.
Source: mogohalle.lv
(Translated using an artificial intelligence tool)
About Mogo/RSU
Founded in 2014, Mogo/RSU has become one of the strongest and most decorated hockey clubs in Latvia. The team won the Latvian championship in its very first season and repeated the achievement in 2019, 2024, and 2025. From 2016 to 2017, Mogo/LSPA claimed the Latvian Cup three years in a row, defeating HK Kurbads in each final. The founder and president of Mogo/RSU is Māris Martinsons, who is also a board member of the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation. The team’s head coach is former Latvian national team player Ģirts Ankipāns. Mogo/RSU’s general manager since the club’s first day is Elviss Želubovskis, who continues to represent the team on the ice as well.
