On Saturday, Mogo/RSU defeated Angers Ducs 4–3 in the match for fifth place at the IIHF Continental Cup, avenging their earlier loss to the French club in the Group C game.
Goals for Mogo/RSU were scored by Elviss Želubovskis, Ernests Krūms, Kaspars Ziemiņš, and Rūdolfs Maslovskis.
Mogo/RSU’s goal was once again defended by Kārlis Mežsargs, who started his third game of the tournament, while Angers entrusted their net to Eliot Levek. The first dangerous chance came when Rūdolfs Maslovskis passed the puck from behind the net to Gints Meija, but the Mogo/RSU captain’s sharp-angle shot was saved by Levek. Shortly afterwards, Jānis Zemītis entered the Angers zone and fired on goal, with the puck ending up in the goaltender’s glove.
In the 13th minute, Mogo/RSU opened the scoring as Želubovskis deflected Ingus Ločmelis’ shot from the blue line. However, Angers needed just 31 seconds to equalise, when Filips Hallijs beat Mežsargs following a shot by Robin Gaborit.
In the sixth minute of the second period, the same Angers duo combined again. Hallijs managed to push the puck to Gaborit while surrounded by opponents, and Gaborit scored from close range to give Angers a 2–1 lead. Mogo/RSU had a good chance to level the score through Ernests Krūms, but his shot became trapped under Levek’s pad. Angers’ Jonathan Charbonneau also threatened, though Mežsargs made the save.
Zemītis’ persistence paid off as Mogo/RSU equalised. His initial shot from the slot was stopped, and his follow-up attempt from the right side was also saved, but Krūms converted the rebound into the open corner to make it 2–2.
Mogo/RSU regained the lead early in the third period. Gatis Sprukts laid the puck off to Ziemiņš, whose powerful shot inside the near post found the net. Angers responded with a similarly precise finish from a sharp angle: Olivier Archambault provided the assist, and Nicolas Ritz, without stopping the puck, fired it past Mežsargs.
Maslovskis’ individual skill proved decisive as he scored Mogo/RSU’s fourth goal, outmanoeuvring defenceman Matt Prapavessis and beating Levek. With less than three minutes remaining, Zemītis had another strong opportunity, but Levek made a difficult save. In the final minute, Angers pulled their goaltender for an extra skater, but the score remained unchanged.
Mogo/RSU secured a 4–3 victory, avenging their November loss to Angers Ducs and finishing fifth in the Continental Cup.
Māris Martinsons, President of Mogo/RSU:
“Participation in the Continental Cup final tournament has been the biggest challenge for Mogo/RSU in recent years. For most of the players, it was their debut at this level and a chance to play in a packed arena with more than 9,000 spectators. I am very satisfied with the players’ attitude, commitment, and effort on the ice. This experience is an excellent school and gives us confidence—we can compete at this level and fight even harder for top places in the future.
We were the only team composed exclusively of Latvian players, which truly demonstrates the strength of Latvian hockey on the European stage. That makes the victory over Angers and fifth place even more gratifying. Thanks to the coaches for their work and to the players for believing in themselves and their abilities.”
Gints Meija was named Mogo/RSU’s best player of the match, while Théo Sarlieve-Fonfrède received the same honour for Angers Ducs.
Mogo/RSU will play their next game on Wednesday, 21 January, at 19:00, away against Zemgale/LBTU Jelgava.
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.
