The Greatest Hockey Comeback You've Never Heard of (Latvia vs. Belarus 2005)

The 2005 Winter Olympic Hockey Qualification Tournament was host to what might be the greatest comeback in hockey history.

[@777Balt]

One interesting fact you missed: After Belarus scored and result became 2:4, Lukashenko (president of Belarus) boarded a private plane to fly and congratulate Belarus Hockey players in person for qualifying for Olympics. However after Latvia unexpectedly won the game in the last 5 minutes his plane turned around and went back to Belarus.

[@Finduski]

Proof?

[@jobansbobans]

He is not president , but dictator instead. Get your facts straight.

[@TH1RDP3RSON]

@@jobansbobans you can be a president and a dictator at the same time, whats your point?

[@robertblake4006]

@@jobansbobans Why he is a dictator? Because media is saying that? Because he did not let Soros and globalists take over his country does not make him a criminal. War criminals and dictators bombed and killed dozens civilians in Iraq,Afghanistan, Libya etc. and no one judged them. Hypocracy at highest level. Put your foliar hat depper on your rabbit size brains and keep walking. We are talking about sport here.

[@denxx56]

​@@jobansbobanshe's still a president smartass

[@laurix240sx]

I was watching this game as a child with my family! Thanks for nostalgia 😊🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻🏒🏒🏒

[@arnoldsbaltnegeris3962]

Unfortunately, the Torino Olympics were a nightmare to forget for the Latvian team and fans. Except the opening game against USA, one big defeat after another, against Kazakhstan included. But this emotional game was still worth it.

[@cvetkovlive]

I watched this game LIVE when I was in my late teens. How electrifying it was, is an understatement . Truly magical, equivalent to the history Latvia made yesterday.

[@kolasillers7776]

RIP to those fallen guys from that team.

[@djzanis5220]

This game is one of my earliest memories! (I was 5 at the time)

[@zigmej]

thanks for this! a nice trip down the memory lane. i was watching this game with my friends and at 2:4 we and one other non-beliver went to another room to smoke and complain about how horrible this team is. So when people started screaming repetedly we came back to a score of 4:4 and the glorious winning goal. this just cant be repeated.

[@latvian22]

Great video! One of my fondest memories watching our national team as a kid! It was definitely up there with the miracle run we had this year. Another great content idea is Latvia's games against Canada. Although we've lost most of them, we've had some iconic moments - playing 3:3 against them in 1997 (first year in elite.. along with 1:1 against Sweden and 8:0 vs Germany and 5:4 vs Slovakia), a notorious 0:11 loss in 2006 at home (first time we hosted the world championship) where one of the fans threw a boot on the ice because the refs were horrific, 2:1 loss in 2018 I think where our goalie had close to 60 saves that game, and 2021 where after all those brutal 7:0 and 6:1 losses we finally won 2:0 in front of our fans as a revenge for 2006. Worth looking into it. Keep up the good work! Greetings from Latvia

[@ArmandsKreslins]

Paldies tev par šo video! Jā, tas patiešām bija episks hokeja mačs. 🇱🇻 ✌️

[@Filantrops]

I was there in the arena - shivers down the spine every time I remember the game.

[@geniegb]

I believe that only latvieši are here watching :) You are wearing a proper jersey there, tru skool. Respect!

[@uzhacuzhacny1083]

thumbs up for ZEMGALE mug... 🤣

[@valts777]

I saw this game! Unforgettable emotions. Thank you for the video!

[@akselssuksis7269]

Oh trust me, I’ve heard of it 🇱🇻

[@Mr_Rums]

Es biju tur - redzēju klātienē. Pēc spēles, knapi varēju parunāt - no bļaušanas bija pazudusi balss!

[@Lostforface]

Damn Im old. it is 2005 but looks like something from 90ies...

[@teikasbarons1180]

It's because only in 2012 worldwide aspect ratio was switched from 4:3 to 16:9 :D

[@MrCoitelo]

i wonder why you have so many souvenirs from latvia

[@SportsGhost]

I grew up there

[@RobertssU]

are you Latvian? Nice video

[@SportsGhost]

American but I grew up in Latvia.

[@6310-c5h]

@@SportsGhost сдриснул из это страны помойки, да и правильно

[@ThemakaroniLV]

Are you latvian yourself? Your english is perfect and I cant even hear any accent in your speech

[@SportsGhost]

American but I lived in Latvia from 1997 to 2006!

[@YouriBezugly]

The greatest hockey comeback you've never heard about is Dynamo Riga vs Jokerit. 0:0 after first period, 0:5 after second, 5:5 after third and then Riga won in SO.

[@Oushenss]

3:56 ...yet

[@russianporkban6118]

Youre latvian?

[@kiryllshynharow9058]

that match was a great battle Latvia and Belarus were fundamental rivals in hockey in those years Latvian hockey teams have always been distinguished by their unbreakable nature in the last 5 minutes everything turned upside down Belarusians were shocked by the result, but many years later you remember it as why we love hockey I’m very glad that Latvia won bronze medals in 2023, they rightfully deserved this award: games with their participation are always a thriller, regardless of the result I hope that someday Belarus vs Latvia will play in the final of the Olympics and probably the Belarusians will take revenge for 2005 Full the game video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6Ochmehr81peZI

[@tigerboy1966]

Very Latvian attitude: Belarus? Will not win. Go to Poland match instead,

[@6310-c5h]

хорошо что есть кнопка "не рекомендовать этот говно-канал"

[@TheColonyRed]

omg biggest fail brother😂 with that choice...

[@danielsrebuss1752]

Full game kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYK9q3Wbprhljtksi=5jS6eWna0x7xfabf

[@melluzi]

That game, win over RU in St Petersburg in 2000 and bronze medal game win over the US in 2023 are probably the all time greatest wins for Latvia. Even though there are many more.

[@Alexriga]

I think bronze medals and 2023 championship, the quality of ice hockey is on a different level, overall the best achievement.

[@geniegb]

Wins! Not comebacks.

[@oskarsrode2167]

​@@geniegbIt was a comeback, as Latvia lost the first two games and had to win everything to get to the quarter finals. And the bronze game with the US also was a bit of a comeback, as Latvia tied very late in the game. And the rest is history.

[@geniegb]

@@oskarsrode2167 Merriam-Webster states that comeback is a won game if we were losing at some part of it.

[@ilgvarscevers7514]

Remember this game very well. Was watching it at home with my dad and when we were down 2:4 I went to my room because I had lost hope. Then I heard my dad screaming, I rushed back to the TV room - it was 3:4. Okay, I went back to my room. My dad screams again! I rush back - 4:4! Now my dad tells me to just leave, because it clearly brings luck. So I did and wouldnt you know, a few seconds later my dad screams again and its 5:4! This game has really stuck into my head and I truly believe it will stay there for the rest of my life! Thanks for acknowledging it as one of the great hockey comebacks!

[@SpruceX]

Thank you for your service! My mother contributed everything this year, she made sandwiches throughout the entire championship.

[@kaktus1892]

same lol, im czech, watched a game with my mom in 2021 against sweden in the world championship, it was 0:2, i lost hope, went to the shower, my mom screams, its 1:2, 19 minutes left, theres still hope, one goal and we could win it in ot, i leave again, boom, 2:2, 15 minutes left, so my mom told me the same thing, i should leave cause it brings luck, soon it became 3:2, again, i should leave, but i stayed and witnessed a 4:2 goal, it wasnt a crucial match, but still, my story is very similar to yours

[@saintsonbeat]

Labi kad Sencis pamanija kad esi laimes talismans un iedzina atpakalj istaba , savadak uzvara nepienaktu :D

[@MikelisBlaumanis]

hahaha , 23 yrs ago i did that to my dad , he gave up his hope in that moment 4-2 ... i just watched as kido and just wished mirecale become true

[@geniegb]

I believe that you left for USA, Sweden, and Switzerland games as well

[@MKitchen75]

congrats latvia for bronze medal in WC, you really earned it.. Br from Finland

[@straightforwardskateboards5421]

I was a kid when this game happened, I was super bummed out when it was 2:4, I even turned the TV off. I could not believe we have tied the game when I turned the TV back on. Good old times, went to this stadium 'Rīga Sport Castle' to watch a bunch of Latvian games, back then when I didn't have money for tickets we just tried our luck getting inside without them. Most of the time the old lady didn't even bother to check if you have them :)

[@Pekka.Pekka.1296]

And you won the bronze last weekend. Wow!

[@Daniels..]

PROUD TO BE LATVIAN❤️🇱🇻

[@matains88]

I was a teen back then and watched the game on TV. I remember going to my room few minutes before the comeback. Then i met my dad in the kitchen and he casually mentioned our team winning to see my reaction. A good lesson learned. I felt like a traitor and deservedly so. You're not a fan if you only root for the winner.

[@edgarsvilnis1307]

Yes. I remember this legendary game

[@raitisfreimanis]

Interestingly enough Latvia had two important comeback games in the recent World Championships first against Switzerland to reach the quarterfinals and then against USA to win the bronze medal.

[@Proxoor]

He might be a fan of Latvia. Hard to tell tbh

[@themauwie8933]

hehe. yee... I will never forget this game. Still, after all these years I'm thinking about it. 😅 I was little and watched it at home. Now after medals, this is my 2nd biggest LV hockey moment. 3rd is Ted Nolan's team and the Olympics.

[@TheHat--Man]

Habs down from. 5-0 to winning 6-5 was more impressive

[@maartinhs]

ok but what was on stake that game? regular season game?

[@Rihardololz]

@@maartinhs 21st and still has no Stanley cup.

[@arturseversons3444]

Never heard? I'm Latvian, and this is Latvian folklore 😇 One of the all time greatest matches. P.s. see the guy with glasses at 3:03? That's Gunārs Meijers, the musician who created two of our best hockey anthems (obviously a hockey fan himself).

[@leDevLV]

Im a Latvian... I remember this... Me and my brother, we completly lost our minds and voices aswell :D Im amazed someone has even noticed this, 18 years later lol

[@1234zuzze]

I remember watching it on tv. It was like move scene. I remember thinking " that's why I love hockey, anything can happen"

[@100Kakdela]

I was watching that game on tv as a 15 year old and could not believe what I was seeing. One of the craziest games ever.

[@jasonknoll5170]

Now a video on their most recent bronze medal run!

[@Gachaans]

I was there 😎🇱🇻🇱🇻

[@BIOSHOCKFOXX]

The greatest moment in history until Latvia gains bronze in championship of 2023, with 7 straight wins in a row and a MVP goalie player who was coached by the legendary Arturs Irbe, a.k.a. The Wall. Our MVP goalie has been nicknamed The Wall just as well, both have names starting with Arturs :D

[@HakkoChannel]

I was on that game - tickets were sold out, my father got me one from somwhere. Most amazing emotion mix!

[@sandrissports]

Latvians here

[@anka1286]

Latvia is the best😉❤❤❤

[@kolasillers7776]

One of the greatest games in our teams history until recent events.

[@atisp.9976]

As a Latvian myself, I'll never not watch a video about this! Cheers!

[@robrob4730]

At this level anything can happen. :D

[@hekcha9867]

Dont forget Dinamo Riga game against Jokerit. 0:5 and Riga scored 5 goals in the third and ended up winning in the OT penalty shots!!

[@patrick2001fly]

i hope u saw our run to 3rd this year, love

[@ingusestons6480]

Yessss! Big game!

[@daweed9131]

U have to cover the recent news

[@dacejaunzeme4849]

Thank You for telling this story! 🙂 ^^ 🙂

[@sergeyfomichev736]

is there nothing to say about the judgemenet in this game?

[@oskarsbambalis1766]

I watched at TV remember that game !

[@zepplim]

Respect from Latvija nice video!

[@pulkvedis7452]

good video

[@glebkipriyanov4031]

This isn’t the greatest comeback in hockey, bullshit. Probably latvias best comeback tho

[@jusko111]

Amazzing story mate❤

[@jusko111]

❤❤❤

[@djumin1m]

Latvian and Belarus same outside level.

[@PaulChestnuts]

Always go to both games