While much of the tail end of last week was spent discussing Slovenia’s historic entry into the men’s hockey tournament at the 2014 Winter Olympics, family ties are binding another Los Angeles King to the Sochi Games.
Jordan Nolan’s father, Ted Nolan, has coached Latvia into the Winter Olympics, marking Latvia’s fourth consecutive appearance in the men’s tournament. The Latvians finished in last place amongst the 12 teams in both the 2006 and 2010 Games.
Final day mathematics provided a tense qualification scenario as the Latvians needed at least one point from an overtime loss to advance, while their final day opponent, France, needed to win by at least two goals or score at least four goals in a one-goal win to qualify. If neither scenario developed, Kazakhstan would have qualified for its third Games ever.
Trailing 2-0 at one point, Latvia entered the third period trailing France 2-1 before scoring 12 seconds into the final 20 minutes on former L.A. goalie Cristobal Huet. France eventually won in overtime, but the deafening chants in Riga for the host country made for the most jubilant loss in Latvia’s hockey history.
The Latvians will be a heavy underdog in Group C along with the Czech Republic, Sweden and Switzerland. While Latvia isn’t quite the minnow on hockey’s world stage that Slovenia is, stressing qualification stories for lower-tier national teams always provide for great theatre. If you haven’t already heard it, I hope you’ll listen to the Honduran radio account of United States defender Jonathan Bornstein’s 95th minute goal against Costa Rica in 2009 World Cup qualification that allowed Honduras to enter the World Cup for the first time in 28 years on goal differential and try to suppress the chills.
Jordan Nolan, on communicating with his father after Latvia’s win on Sunday:
“We texted a bit after the game [Sunday]. He sounded pretty excited. He’s flying back home [Monday], and then he’s coming down to L.A. in a week or so. So I think he’s definitely thrilled, and my mom’s pretty excited, too. So it’s a pretty emotional day for them, and he’s very proud.”
Nolan, on if it’s special for two Kings to have family ties to the 2014 Olympics:
“Yeah, I think so. Just having anything to do with the Olympics [is special]. My dad has worked hard in his career to get to where he is now and have the team that they did in this fast tournament, and to make it to the Olympics is definitely exciting for our family and for Kopitar’s family, also. They’re a hard working family also, so I think both families deserve it. It’s going to be an exciting time next year.”
Nolan, on how much time Ted spends in Latvia:
“Not too much, actually. He only goes over there about maybe five or six times [a year], for about two weeks at a time, so I think he’s excited to come down to L.A., watch me play a little bit, and then he has another tournament coming up at the end of the season. He’s definitely focused on his job over there and has a big job to do coming up with the Olympics this next year. But he’s excited to come down [for] a little down time in L.A.”
Nolan, on the pride of seeing the celebration inside Arena Riga after the game:
“Yeah, definitely, just to know that your dad was part of that team [as] head coach, and I’m sure that he’s also very proud of the guys on his team for accomplishing that. He wasn’t sure what their chances were of making it…They came a long way, I think, and they’re definitely a proud country right now, so he probably celebrated a little bit last night, and then he’ll come down to watch his boy.”
Nolan, on the reunion of the King-Richards-Nolan line:
“I think we were both a little surprised. Darryl can throw some lines that you never know what’s going to happen. But I thought we played well [versus Detroit]. I had a few chances. Kinger and I work well off each other, and Mike’s obviously a pretty gifted player, so we try to get him the puck as much as [we can] and get some scoring chances.”
IIHF recap of Latvia’s entrance into the 2014 Winter Olympics
well done Ted, Jordan keep it going ah…..big name relatives all good
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I dint think its been said enough but… we lost a great blogger… but mr rosen you have stepped up and made this site amazing. Btw go kings go!!!!
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Congrats Latvia!
any chance for Raitis Ivanans to make the team?
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Gmo Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 2:15 pm
@LB,
The KINGS need him bad right now, we can’t afford to lose him to an injury
GO KINGS GO
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Congrats to Latvia.
Any word on A-Mart’s status yet? Is he alright?
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Some great stories in there, thx Jon. Most of us fans are wondering about Mitchell and Martinez status I believe. Looking for word on that.
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JonRosen Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
@KC23, Thank you for reading! The team was off today, so no new news. Will hope to have a clearer picture on both from practice tomorrow.
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harty Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 4:17 pm
@JonRosen, I agree with KC23, well done Jon…..much interest in your investigative reporting and indepth articles.
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Forum Gold Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 6:13 pm
@JonRosen, I’m sure you do not get a chance to see all of our comments but you are getting rave reviews by the Insiders. Your hard work and dedication is really appreciated. I hope you are enjoying your work as much as we are enjoying reading it. GO KINGS GO!!!
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I just find it funny how now ryan smith is not happy with his playing minutes and new role in a young oilers team. He is being scratch for the second game in a row and he is showing his displeasure. Karma is a bia#%#^*tch Ryan lol, what goes around comes around lol
GO KINGS GO
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OT alert;
I have a little concern about DL’s lack of determination in terms of whether he should call up the guys from the farm team.
I say this because the other temas, almost all of them, seem to be doing it almost daily bases(You should have seen all those telops on the bottom of the screen on NHL Network). The Kings are the only team that has less traffic with that path except Muzzin.
In the last season, DL commented that he regrets the decision that he did not call King and Nolan up earlier. It would be no good if all those young talents are rotten in the minor. There should be interchangeable players to test those young guns at least for a while. I know that the Kings brought back the championship team intact and all but as we all have seen, sometimes the young talent that breaking through helps the team a lot.
But of course, I’m not a general manager so what I know … just a thought.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 3:46 pm
@goldielocks, If only we were Pittsburgh and we could exchange players with Wilkes-Barre Scranton.
Have you seen the price of a plane ticket from New Hampshire to California lately?!
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LA_1968 Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 6:20 pm
@Duncanz, Put them on the Greyhound. Problem solved I say.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 9:52 pm
@LA_1968, AHL = Autobus Ha Llegado
DesertKing Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
@goldielocks,
Part of the importance or training camp and preseason games is to gauge the talemt and level of development for players on the farm teams. This allows GMs to evaluate their talent at the NHL level. The teams didn’t have that luxury this season and I believe that will limit some moves of AHL players to the NHL.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 4:06 pm
@DessertKing, Damn! Why can’t I unfailingly come up with the right answers like this?
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DesertKing Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 4:11 pm
@Duncecanz,
Probably because it is wrong
phil sykes Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
@goldielocks, yea this isnt the ideal situation to repeat with all these injuries on the blueline …….. but u know what …….. all we can do is throw the kids muzzin drewiske and ellerby in there and hope they grow up fast ….. it can be done because the rest of our team is solid ……… so we will see ….. muzz and drewiske have upside for sure although play differnt styles , which is good
………….. ellerby – who knows , hopefully he will work out as well …. its still too early to tell , as many more intelligent people than myself pointed out to me the other day , eventhough i refused to listen
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Duncanz Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Or this!?
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KC23 Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 4:14 pm
@goldielocks, I think it has more to do with waver rules than determination. Each team is only allowed so many roster spots so if you call someone up you must send someone down. If you send someone down they need to clear wavers unless they are waver exempt. Our only waver exempt players are d-men.
For example Stewart had to clear wavers in order to go to Manchester when he got sent down when Kopitar came back from his injury.
Don’t know all the in’s and outs of this stuff, but that is how I understand it.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 12th, 2013 at 4:16 pm
@goldielocks, You have 23 players on the roster and that’s all you get. If you being up Vey, Stewart, Toffoli, etc. you have to release somebody for each one you bring up. Nolan is probably waiver exempt, anyone else and you lose an asset permanently. Who would you be willing to part with?
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Chicks from Latvia are hot!!!
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NHL hockey and Olympic hockey got mashed together back in 2010 at Staples. The last game before the Olympic break was vs the Avs I believe. What I remember about that night was a good game (we won), then afterward the players from both teams who were going to Vancouver to represent their home countries were introduced on the ice, each carrying their native flags. The Staples crowd stuck around for the ceremony and roared encouragement for the players – from both teams. It was honestly a very “Olympic” moment that was a total surprise.
So for the Nolan family – well done and good luck in Sochi! Little Latvia will have a pocket of support in LA.
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It’s great to see someone writing about Latvia’s qualification for the Oly’s. Nolan’s doing a great job out there, but I didn’t realize how little time he really put in. Hopefully Girgensons can make an impact in Sochi. Thanks!
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