Arturs Silovs pulled from the Latvian Team's roster at the last minute

Instead, Latvia has opted for Kristers Gudlevskis, who plays for the Fischtown Pinguins in the German DEL, and Gustavs Grigals of the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals. The Latvian hockey federation has not provided an official reason for this decision, sparking speculation among many fans.

A likely explanation could involve the Vancouver Canucks. With Thatcher Demko, the Canucks' starting goaltender, dealing with lingering injury issues, Vancouver might have influenced the decision to keep Silovs off the roster. The Canucks could be concerned about the risk of Silovs getting injured during the qualifiers, which would be a significant setback for the team to start the season, especially if Demko isn't fully recovered.

While this decision is undoubtedly disappointing for Silovs and Latvian hockey fans, it may be a strategic move to ensure his health for the upcoming NHL season. The Canucks' goaltending depth could be severely impacted if Silovs were to suffer an injury right before the season begins, making this a precautionary step.

Silovs earned a two-year contract extension with the Canucks this offseason after his promising performance in the playoffs, where he filled in for the injured Thatcher Demko.

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