Latvia is playing host to the 2006 World Championships and Arturs Irbe would like nothing more than to play for his country in his homeland.

By Alan Adams | NHL.com columnist

PRAGUE -- The game had ended and the players were shaking hands when Olie Kolzig and Arturs Irbe met at center ice and exchanged greetings.

The veteran goalies patted each other on the back and went their separate ways, with Irbe disappearing into the Latvia dressing room and Kolzig cooling down in Germany's quarters after the 1-1 game.

Irbe and Kolzig are having a great time at the World Hockey Championship. They're playing meaningful games on the world stage and the stakes are high for their respective teams. Germany is ranked seventh in the IIHF world rankings and the top eight countries at the end of the 16-team tournament secure berths in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Italy. Latvia is 10th and they are not far from cracking the top eight.

Both veterans have played in the Stanley Cup Final in the last five years and they are each coming off NHL seasons they would rather forget. The Capitals were one of the NHL's weakest teams and Kolzig's name was dropped in trade rumors all season. Irbe started the season with Carolina, but at one point he was in the East Coast League.

The German national team has been after Kolzig to come to the world tournament for years. Three years ago, his son was diagnosed with autism and hockey was the furthest thing from his mind. Two years ago he had knee problem and was not able to come. Last year, after the Capitals blew a 2-0 lead to Tampa Bay and were eliminated in the playoffs, Kolzig was not too enthused with hockey. But when the Germans called this time, Kolzig jumped on a plane and hasn't regretted his decision.

"The way our season went in Washington, we basically were out of the playoffs from February on and it was just a good opportunity to play some meaningful hockey again and feel that pressure," said Kolzig.

"It is great (being here). Once the trade deadline came and went ... it was tough. We did not have the strongest team in the League to say the least. It was tough when the games do not mean anything and it feels like an exhibition game ... when you have played a lot of games and are used to playing in late April it is tough. This gives me a great opportunity and it is nice to feel that pressure."

Kolzig is getting a chance to repay the German fans that follow his NHL career and he is also playing in front of his family in Germany. Kolzig was born in South Africa, but his parents were German. Everybody except his immediate family lives in Germany and all the German games are carried live on television for his relatives to watch.

Olaf Kolzig is getting a chance to repay the German fans that follow his NHL career and he is also playing in front of his family in Germany.

"It has been a good trip and I have not seen them since '97. I had some catching up to do with my German. It is getting better," says Kolzig. "I have a tough time after games. My brain keeps spinning from all the questions. I understand all of it and the speaking part will take some time."

Kolzig is also taking the opportunity to make friends with the players he will call teammates in the World Cup in August.

"But had there not been a World Cup this year, I still would have come over just because of the way the season went in Washington," says Kolzig.

Kolzig has developed an appreciation for the World Championships. He didn't know much about it before he joined the German national team, but now that he has seen the level of competition, he understands why Canada and Austria tied 2-2.

"This is kind of like the NHL. There are no more easy opponents and people looked at us playing Kazakhstan and some people were disappointed we only beat them 4-2. But on a big ice surface and the level of hockey throughout the world, they have become a lot better. Every nation is represented very well. Our team plays a great system and they are well coached and it is a great bunch of guys and we can be competitive."

Irbe is a veteran of the world tournament and he paid tribute to Kolzig for the decision to play for Germany.

"He has very deep roots in the United States and to remember from where he is coming from and to use every chance he gets to play for his country, it is amazing and I have to take my hat off in the front of Ollie," says Irbe. "It is honorable for him to do this."

Irbe is not sure how many years he has left in him. Latvia is playing host to the 2006 World Championships and he'd like nothing more than to play for his country in his homeland.

"For me, there are only a certain number of years left in my career and at some point I have to quit playing the game so every year it is a bonus to play for your country and it is a big honor,"' he says.

One thing that Germany and Latvia have in common is their horn-blowing fans who sing from the opening faceoff to the final buzzer. It is as much a contest in the stands who can be the loudest as it is on the ice.

"We have thousands and thousands of fans and they are the best fans in the world," says Irbe. "They do anything they can. There are a lot of people who basically save their money all year and then they come here for their summer vacation. They are very dedicated fans we owe them our best effort every night."

Kolzig wasn't sure what to expect when he played a pre-tournament game for Germany last week, but the fans made a lasting impression. He says they helped keep him in the game against Latvia.

"I did not have a whole bunch of action and if this had been an NHL game I might have dozed off, but they are just so enthusiastic. We played an exhibition game last week and we had 4,000 people and it was louder than any NHL arena. It's been a great time over here."