On Wednesday, Mogo/RSU defeated Jelgava’s Zemgale/LBTU 4–3 in overtime in an away game of the Optibet Hockey League, reclaiming first place in the league table. Gatis Sprukts scored twice for Mogo/RSU, while Māris Bičevskis and Jānis Zemītis added one goal each.
Kārlis Mežsargs started in goal for Mogo/RSU, while the hosts began the game with Patriks Plūmiņš between the pipes. The visitors needed just 28 seconds to take the lead. Māris Bičevskis entered the zone down the right wing and, using the backhand, directed the puck toward the net. Plūmiņš failed to react in time, and the puck slipped into the goal under the goaltender’s pad.
After a harmless-looking shot, Zemgale/LBTU conceded a second goal as well. Plūmiņš stopped Kristers Ansons’ attempt, but Jānis Zemītis immediately buried the rebound into the unguarded corner of the net. This marked the end of Plūmiņš’s night, as Aksels Ozols replaced him in goal.
In the 14th minute, a numerical infraction put the home side shorthanded, but that did not prevent Jelgava from cutting the deficit. Toms Mots delivered a perfectly timed and accurate pass that allowed Mārtiņš Vītols to break in alone against Mežsargs and beat the visiting goaltender. With 33 seconds left in the first period, Zemgale/LBTU equalized. Mots carried the puck into the offensive zone, appeared to momentarily lose control, but left it for Tomi Petteri Ansio, who fired a precise shot past the left post to make it 2–2.
The second period began with Jelgava playing more actively. Artūrs Karaša came close to scoring but was unable to lift the puck over Mežsargs’ pad from in front of the net. Despite the home team’s pressure, Mogo/RSU regained the lead. Zemītis passed back to the blue line to Kristaps Sotnieks, whose shot deflected off Gatis Sprukts and into Ozols’ net. After a powerful shot from the blue line by Karaša, Mežsargs made the save, while at the other end Zemītis tested Ozols with a good attempt following a pass from Krūms. Both teams created several dangerous chances, but the score remained unchanged heading into the second intermission.
The third period opened with offsetting penalties to Sotnieks and Karaša. In the 45th minute, Krūms carelessly used his stick, cutting Jonas Parviainen’s lip and receiving a double minor (2+2). Mogo/RSU defended well, and shortly afterward Karaša was penalized for holding Ziemiņš while heading to the penalty box. The physical battle continued, with additional offsetting penalties assessed to Elvis Želubovskis and Rihards Marenis, and later to Zemītis and Karaša.
In the 55th minute, Jelgava equalized once more as Ate Rajala fired a precise shot into the top right corner from the middle of the zone. In the final minute of regulation, Zemgale/LBTU captain Rihards Marenis received a two-minute penalty for holding Ziemiņš — a decision that proved costly for the hosts. On the very first overtime rush, following a beautiful passing sequence, the visitors scored the game-winning goal. Ansons, Niks Feņenko, and Gints Meija tore apart the shorthanded defensive trio with quick passes, allowing Sprukts to shoot the puck into an open corner of the net for a 4–3 victory.
The win allowed Mogo/RSU to return to first place in the standings. After 28 games, Mogo/RSU have 47 points, Kyiv Capitals 46, Zemgale/LBTU 45, and Liepāja’s hockey team 42 points.
Kristaps Sotnieks was named the best player for Mogo/RSU, while Toms Mots received the honor for Zemgale/LBTU.
Mogo/RSU will play their next game on Saturday, January 24, at 13:30, hosting Prizma at Mogo Hall.
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.
