Nation declares national holiday after beating USA for bronze medal in hockey World Championship

Monday became a nationalist vacation for Latvia aft the country’s biggest hockey triumph ever.

The country, whose nationalist athletics is hockey, defeated the United States, 4-3, in overtime successful the bronze medal game of the IIHF World Championship.

The triumph was truthful immense for Latvians that their authorities decided to marque Monday a nationalist holiday.

Kristians Rubins scored the medal victor conscionable 1:22 into the overtime play astatine Nokia Arena successful Finland — the assemblage consisted of mostly Latvia fans, truthful the extremity sent conscionable astir everybody into a frenzy.

It was the country’s archetypal medal in IIHF competition, and they had not finished amended than seventh spot anterior to this tournament.

Members of the Latvian parliament rocked the team’s sweaters erstwhile declaring Monday the holiday.

“Celebrating the occurrence of the Latvian hockey squad could promote everyone to strive for excellence successful their work, successful their skills,” the measure stated, via USA Today. “Celebrating this time unneurotic would fortify the nationalist self-confidence and cohesion of the Latvian society.”

Latvian squad celebrates triumph during the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Finland – Latvia crippled betwixt USA and Latvia astatine Nokia Arena connected May 28, 2023 successful Tampere, Finland.Getty Images

Miks Indrasis of Latvia stares astatine his bronze medal during the 2023 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Finland.Getty Images

Rubins scored the game-tying extremity with 5:39 near successful regularisation that sent the crippled into overtime.

Canada, for the 28th time, won the golden medal, taking down Germany. 

Canada bushed Latvia, 5-2, successful the semifinals, which hardly came arsenic a surprise.

But for Latvia, this triumph volition past a lifetime.

“For the large teams similar Canada, this is what they do,” Latvian forward Miks Indrašis said aft the game. “They triumph medals each the time. But for us, it’s similar a one-time opportunity. This is unreal.”