2026 World Juniors Preview: Can Latvia surprise people… again?

A year ago, Eriks Mateiko and Linards Feldbergs etched themselves in the Latvian hockey history books.

Nobody took Latvia seriously heading into the 2025 World Juniors, with the team having never made it out of the quarterfinals. Once Russia got kicked out ahead of the 2022 tournament, Latvia has managed to stay relevant in the top division with at least one round-robin win a year.

But most expected that win to come against Germany – and only Germany. Not the tournament hosts.

Between Mateiko’s five goals and Feldberg’s monstrous performances against Canada, USA, and Sweden, Latvia defied the odds to become the tournament’s David facing off against the usual Goliaths.

Can they do it again in Minnesota?

Looking Back to 2025

What a special, special tournament for the Latvians. Just about everyone expected their opening game against Canada to be a bloodbath. Latvia has never beaten Canada at the U-20 level, with almost every other meeting being an absolute beatdown. Instead, Latvia scored twice in the third period to force extra time, with Mateiko tallying the lone shootout goal to pull off the shocking upset.

That win meant the world to the program, but they’d ultimately fall 5-1 to the United States the following night. Still, it was a closer game than the score would have suggested, and it gave them some hope for their big game against Germany. Latvia had to win that game to avoid the relegation round altogether, but it started off ugly. The Germans scored twice in the first half, putting Latvia on its heels. Fortunately for them, they managed to pull off an incredible comeback, with Mateiko scoring in overtime to seal the deal. Latvia would get shut out by Finland to close out the round-robin, but they had already turned their focus towards the quarterfinals.

Again, on paper, Sweden should have absolutely beaten Latvia. They took a 3-0 lead after 23 minutes of play, which suggested it was coming. Instead, Mateiko scored a pair of huge goals to put the pressure back on Sweden, with the Tre Kronor ultimately holding on and avoiding the upset. Regardless, it was the best tournament Latvia has ever had, and it should give them some hope heading into Minnesota.

Goaltenders

With all three goalies from a year ago aging out, Latvia is bringing a fully new crop to Minnesota. Mikus Vecvanags (Montreal Canadiens) is the lone NHL-drafted goalie of the bunch, but he’s having a difficult season as Newfoundland’s backup in the QMJHL. The team isn’t good, but it feels like the 6-foot-3 keeper hasn’t found his footing just yet.

Nils Roberts Maurins, meanwhile, has also had a tough season in North America, with Omaha being one of the worst teams in the USHL. Two of his three wins this year have been shutouts, though, and he’s no stranger to 40-plus shot workloads. His recent hot stretch is promising, so maybe Latvia will ride the hot hand.

Over in the WHL, Ivans Kufterins has also started to figure things out. His stats are nothing to get excited about, but he had a couple of huge performances with Kamloops before joining camp. He was Latvia’s starter at the U-18s last year, so the management group knows him well.

Right now, the team lacks a true difference-maker in net. But the same was said a year ago, only for Feldbergs to pull off the biggest victory in team history. So, hey, who knows?

Defensemen

All eyes will be on Darels Uļjanskis (Anaheim Ducks). He should be one of Latvia’s most important players, and one who’s expected to rack up over 30 minutes a night against some of the top teams. The 2024 seventh-rounder is a mobile defender in the midst of a solid year with the OHL’s Flint Firebirds, where he’s tracking for around 50 points. This will be his third straight tournament after impressing in both Sweden and Canada. Now, the pressure’s on him to be the No. 1 guy.

The most talented defender on this team might be Alberts Smits, a potential top 10 pick in 2026. More on him later, though. Returnee Harijs Cjunskis has spent the past two years playing in North America, primarily in a defensive role with the BCHL’s Brooks Bandits. He’s tough, blocks shots and does a good job of getting sticks in lanes – but don’t expect him to contribute much offensively.

Krišjānis Sārts had an impressive tournament a year ago, despite not having much to show for on the scoresheet. He’s also playing in the BCHL, where he’s often killing penalties and using his speed to outskate opponents. For a bit more physicality, Oskars Briedis fits the bill. He plays a punishing style of hockey that has allowed him to overwhelm opponents at times in the Swedish U-20 league. He was also one of Latvia’s top players during the November tournament against Austria and Norway, for what it’s worth.

As for the rest of the crop, Matiss Osans battles hard – he never wants to lose the puck. Rolands Naglis looked good back in November, and has plenty of national team experience over the past three years. Krists Retenais is small, but he’s not afraid of a physical challenge – something he showcases often with the Bandits. Overall, it’s a group that won’t go down without a fight. And that’s important, because they’re not expected to score much.

Forwards

With Mateiko aging out, a new crop of Latvian talent will need to take center stage. The team’s most prominent winger, though, is Bruno Osmanis, who was passed over last year despite a solid season overall. He’s currently bouncing between the second-tier Swedish league and their U-20 division, and he has put up impressive numbers in both. Look for Osmanis to be leaned on heavily as the team’s most skilled forward.

There’s a good chance Daniels Serkins takes over as the No. 1 center. He’s undersized, but he plays with a ton of pace and has been excellent internationally for the Latvians this year. He primarily plays junior hockey in Switzerland, but he has played a handful of pro games in the nation’s top two pro men’s leagues. That could come in handy.

There was a time when Kristers Ansons was among the most notable prospects in the 2006 age group. He got passed over twice before, and his odds of making the NHL are extremely low. But on this team, the 6-foot-4 power forward brings size and a good shot release to the table. He had a hat-trick against Austria last month and has points in each one of his Latvian pro games since. Can he keep the hot streak alive?

Not eligible until the 2027 NHL Draft, Roberts Naudiņš has received some considerable attention from scouts. He should challenge for a top-six spot on Latvia, giving the team a hulking presence at 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds. He plays against prep school competition in the United States, and is one of Shattuck’s top players. The Harvard University commit played in last year’s event, but he’ll be given more responsibilities this time around.

Another national team standout this year is Markuss Sieradzkis, who has five points in three games. Sieradzkis had a decent showing a year ago, where he also served as one of the team’s top energy forwards. Antons Macijevskis is set for his second WJC, where he’ll likely serve as more of a two-way forward who plays with speed. Beyond that, though, most of Latvia’s other top forwards can be found below:

2026 NHL Draft

Defenseman Alberts Šmits is a near-consensus top-10 prospect right now. Zemgus Girgensons (14th overall in 2012) is the only first-rounder in team history, but Šmits feels like an extremely safe bet to go even higher. He’s good in his own zone, for sure. And he can definitely hit guys. But his puck play is incredible, allowing him to skyrocket up draft boards. He’s averaging a little below half a point per game with Jukurit, something very few U-19 defenders have ever come close to in Liiga history. Given he’s playing well north of 20 minutes against men, don’t be surprised if he plays close to 30 in Minnesota.

Perhaps the more interesting prospect is Olivers Mūrnieks, who is coming off a concussion. Projected to go in the first round early on, Mūrnieks has had a difficult season with the Saint John Sea Dogs, with just 13 points in 22 games. He was one of Latvia’s best forwards at last year’s tournament and is easily one of the most skilled centers in the nation’s history. Can he use this event to help get his game back on the right track?

Teams like big forwards, and 6-foot-4 Rūdolfs Bērzkalns fit the bill. The massive center plays a true power forward style of game. His skating is still a work in progress, but a team could take a chance on him for the way he battles in front of the net. Martins Klaucāns is also set for his second World Juniors, and will look to find his footing after a quiet first half with the QMJHL’s Sherbrooke Phoenix.

Projection

Latvia has a tough group, with losses against Canada, Finland and Czechia expected. They should at least be able to put up a fight against the Finns, and we know they typically play tougher against some of the tournament’s top squads. The Latvians also have an advantage over Denmark, which should help them qualify for the quarterfinals. Beyond that, don’t expect much else – but that’s par for the course. As long as Latvia continues to stay in the top tournament, they’ll continue building for a more promising long-term future.

Schedule

Dec. 19 vs. Czechia – 8:00 PM ET (Pre-tournament)
Dec. 21 vs. Slovakia – 8:00 PM ET (Pre-tournament)
Dec. 27 vs. Canada – 4:30 PM ET
Dec. 28 vs. Finland – 4:30 PM ET
Dec. 30 vs. Denmark – 4:30 PM ET
Dec. 31 vs. Czechia – 3:30 PM ET

NHL Prospects

Defensemen:
Darels Uljanskis (Anaheim Ducks)

Goaltenders:
Mikus Vecvanags (Montreal Canadiens)

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