Mogo/RSU defeated Riga HS/Dinaburga 4–1 at Mogo Hall on Wednesday in their opening game of the new Optibet Hockey League season. Rūdolfs Polcs scored twice for Mogo/RSU, while Ernests Krūms and Jānis Zemītis added one goal each.
Kārlis Mežsargs started in goal for Mogo/RSU, while Riga HS/Dinaburga entrusted Gustavs Rozentāls with guarding their net. The visitors created the first dangerous opportunity. Mežsargs saved a powerful shot from Artūrs Ševčenko, but the forward recovered the puck and struck the post with his second attempt. At the other end, Kristaps Jākobsons fired from the right face-off circle before Kristaps Skrastiņš tested Rozentāls, who dealt with both efforts. A few minutes later, Ričards Grīnbergs sent the puck into the visiting goaltender’s glove. Near the end of the opening period, Ernests Krūms shot following a pass from Kaspars Daugaviņš. Jānis Zemītis failed to connect with the bouncing rebound, but the puck fell favourably for Krūms, who made no mistake to give Mogo/RSU a 1–0 lead.
The home side doubled its advantage in the opening minute of the second period. Kristaps Sotnieks’ shot sent the puck high into the air before it dropped to Rūdolfs Polcs, who skated around the net and beat Rozentāls for the second time. Following penalties to Anatolijs Tovarišs and Ingus Ločmelis, Riga HS/Dinaburga had a 51-second five-on-three advantage but failed to create any particularly dangerous chances. As Tovarišs returned from the penalty box, Mogo/RSU scored shorthanded. Sotnieks intercepted the puck at his own blue line and immediately passed it to Polcs, who beat Kristaps Kandis, advanced towards the net and fired inside the far post. The home side also had a brief five-on-three advantage, but Rozentāls produced several excellent saves to deny Zemītis.
Zemītis finally beat Rozentāls in the third period. Daugaviņš launched the attack, Krūms provided the pass, and Zemītis finished accurately inside the left post. A penalty to Ričards Grīnbergs gave the visitors another power-play opportunity, during which Mežsargs denied dangerous shots from Armands Apsītis and Toms Pastars. Riga HS/Dinaburga nevertheless found the net in the penultimate minute. Mežsargs saved Edgars Ablaževičs’ shot and Apsītis’ first attempt, but the puck returned to the visiting forward, who converted at the second opportunity. Mogo/RSU thus celebrated their first victory of the season with a 4–1 result.
Mogo/RSU will face Riga HS/Dinaburga again in their next game at Daugavpils Ice Hall on Saturday, 12 September, at 3 p.m.
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.
