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<p>It’s been a wild few years for Latvian hockey.</p>



<p>In 2021, they hosted the men’s World Hockey Championship and stunned Canada with a victory in the opening game. Matiss Kivlenieks, the backbone of that team, tragically lost his life later that summer in a horrible accident. They then qualified for the Olympics for the first time before beating Czechia to advance to the World Junior Championship quarterfinals for the first time ever.</p>



<p>Sometimes, heart trumps skill. And the Latvians have one big beating ticking organ.</p>



<p>Their path to making the top WJC is as unconventional as it gets. Had Russia or Belarus not been banned, Latvia would be the favorite to win Division IA this year instead of playing in the spotlight for the second event in a row. They’re a feel-good team many are going to cheer for in Moncton.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="150"></div>



<p>But, as expected, it will be a rough go for the Latvians. They don’t have the clutch scorer minnow teams typically need to make some noise at an event like this, especially against loaded teams like USA and Finland. There’s a chance they can make the quarterfinal, but they can’t have any off nights.</p>



<p>Here’s a breakdown of Latvia’s team ahead of the 2023 World Junior Championship, set to begin on Dec. 26:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-goaltenders"><strong>Goaltenders</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52296420232_b085358d79_h.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52296420232_b085358d79_h-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-94777" srcset="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52296420232_b085358d79_h-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52296420232_b085358d79_h-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52296420232_b085358d79_h-768x511.jpg 768w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52296420232_b085358d79_h-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52296420232_b085358d79_h-150x100.jpg 150w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52296420232_b085358d79_h-600x399.jpg 600w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52296420232_b085358d79_h-696x463.jpg 696w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52296420232_b085358d79_h-1392x927.jpg 1392w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52296420232_b085358d79_h-1068x711.jpg 1068w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52296420232_b085358d79_h.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></a><figcaption>Edmonton, AB – August 9, 2022: Latvia goaltender Patriks Berzins (#35) during a game between Finland and Latvia at the World Junior Championship Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Photo by Steven Ellis)</figcaption></figure>



<p>This will end up being Latvia’s most important position. They’ll be outmatched against USA and Finland, but a win against Switzerland on Dec. 31 is plausible. They’ll need spectacular goaltending from one of their guys, and perhaps we’ll be talking about a new Latvian goaltending hero – something that isn’t uncommon in international play.</p>



<p>As the lone returning goaltender, <strong>Patriks Berzins</strong> should get the nod for Latvia. Despite holding a 1-9-2 record with the NAHL’s Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks by the time he was named to Latvia’s roster, he’s been one of the team’s few bright spots and is headed to the University of Maine next year. He doesn’t have much of a history with Latvia’s junior program with just one game total, but he’s no stranger to heavy workloads and he’ll need to be perfect if Latvia is going to avoid relegation. There’s always one goalie on one of the smaller teams that shines in events like this, and it feels like Berzins might be that guy.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="241"></div>



<p><strong>Deivs Rolovs</strong> was Latvia’s starter at the U-18 worlds, and he’ll now get a chance with the U-20 team for the first time. He’s been good with Zemgale in the Latvian league but doesn’t have a ton of starts. His stats were ugly at the U-18s, but he was the difference-maker in the team’s historic win over Sweden. This will be the biggest test of his career to date, even if it’s just for a game or two.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Defensemen</strong></h2>



<p>The Latvians are bringing an NHL prospect-free lineup to the WJC, and they’re going to be busy. After making an impact deeper down in the lineup over the summer, QMJHL defenseman <strong>Niks Fenenko</strong> should be counted on more after a solid run with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar to kick off the year. He’s a two-way blueliner who can play a shutdown game when needed, moves well and, despite being raw, does a lot of little things right. He wasn’t taken in 2022, but a strong showing on Latvia’s top pairing could help push him to get selected as an overager this year.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="179"></div>



<p><strong>Bogdans Hodass </strong>has perhaps the best name in the tournament, and he’s back after a strong summer showing. The Medicine Hat Tigers’ defender was ranked by the NHL’s Central Scouting service midway through last year but was ultimately not drafted. He’s got good size, can play physically and can lean into a shot when needed, and heaven knows Latvia will need it.</p>



<p>Regarding players capable of generating offense from the point, <strong>Dario Mackevics </strong>can get the job done. He had two assists at the U-18s last year and is second among defensemen in U-18 scoring 12 points in 23 games this year. He’s been a captain with Latvia in the past and has been involved at various different levels with the team, so they trust what he can do.</p>



<p><strong>Gustavs Ozolins </strong>and <strong>Rihards Simanovics </strong>had varying levels of ice time during the summer tournament but will be back to bring a mix of speed and size. Ozolins can fly when he’s got the puck on his stick, while Simanovics will be one of the heavier hitters at 6-foot-3. He’ll likely play more of a shutdown role, but he’s having a solid first season in North America with the NAHL’s Amarillo Wranglers.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="201"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Forwards</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52303494618_22771c1e2c_k.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52303494618_22771c1e2c_k-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-94776" srcset="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52303494618_22771c1e2c_k-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52303494618_22771c1e2c_k-300x200.jpg 300w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52303494618_22771c1e2c_k-768x511.jpg 768w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52303494618_22771c1e2c_k-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52303494618_22771c1e2c_k-150x100.jpg 150w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52303494618_22771c1e2c_k-600x399.jpg 600w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52303494618_22771c1e2c_k-696x463.jpg 696w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52303494618_22771c1e2c_k-1392x926.jpg 1392w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52303494618_22771c1e2c_k-1068x711.jpg 1068w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52303494618_22771c1e2c_k-1920x1278.jpg 1920w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/52303494618_22771c1e2c_k.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></a><figcaption>Edmonton, AB – August 12, 2022: Latvia forward Sandis Vilmanis (#22) during a game between Latvia and Slovakia at the World Junior Championship at Rogers Place. (Photo by Steven Ellis)</figcaption></figure>



<p>With three NHL Draft prospects, Latvia will have a bit more notable firepower than usual at this event. It starts with <strong>Sandis Vilmanis</strong>, a fifth-round pick by Florida last year. He had an assist in five games at last year’s tournament and three points at the Division IA tournament last December. He’s third in scoring on the Sarnia Sting as an 18-year-old rookie playing in North America for the first time, which is decent. </p>



<p><strong>Klavs Veinbergs,</strong> a Tampa Bay seventh-rounder, has also adjusted to life in a new country with the USHL’s Lincoln Stars and is set to join Minnesota State University in 2023-24. He got experience with Latvia’s men’s team at the most recent World Championship, and they’ll look for him to step up in Moncton.</p>



<p>And then there’s <strong>Dans Locmelis</strong>, a fourth-round pick by the Boston Bruins. After getting a taste of the SHL and seeing some reasonable success internationally, Locmelis has been excellent in the Swedish U-20 league with 33 points in 27 games, the most of any NHL-drafted prospect and fourth among U-19 players. This will be an excellent opportunity for the University of Massachusetts commit to be a leader.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="195"></div>



<p><strong>Martins Lavins,</strong> the fun-loving <a href="https://twitter.com/SEllisHockey/status/1558986648649486337" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ice cream connoisseur, </a>was a standout for Latvia at the summer tournament and, just from watching him in the USHL this year, he has adapted to the smaller ice much better. His speed allows him to get into scoring spots and he’s dangerous in tight. He’ll be in the top six as a complementary scorer.</p>



<p>One more under-the-radar name to watch is <strong>Emils Veckaktins</strong>. After standing out at the U-18s last year, he’s up to 29 points in 27 games in the Swiss U-20 elite league, good for fourth among U-19 skaters. He’s got good size, plays a physical game and puts a lot of power behind his shot, so he’ll be asked to produce.</p>



<p>The theme of Latvia’s offense will be defensive responsibility. Given their lack of high-end scoring, they’ll need to take advantage of special teams and getting back-to-back chances in close. But Latvian hockey has seemingly always been dominated by smart players making life miserable around the net and forcing teams to get creative. You’ll see that in this group, one that’ll need its top line to cause most of the damage.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="189"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>NHL Draft watch</strong></h2>



<p>At 6-foot-4, <strong>Rainers Rullers</strong> can be an absolute beast when he’s at full speed. He isn’t too quick of a skater but moves well enough for his size and can create damage from in close. Rullers didn’t play much during the summer tournament, but he scored against Czechia and got better as the tournament wore on.</p>



<p><strong>Rodzers Bukarts</strong> comes from a Latvian hockey powerhouse, with his older brothers Roberts and Rihards both representing the country internationally at the men’s level. The youngest of the three has played at nearly a point-per-game in the best Swiss U-20 league and was tied for the scoring lead on Latvia at the U-18s last year. He has played some good hockey over the last calendar year, so it’ll be interesting to see where he slots in here.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="133"></div>



<p>And then there’s Fenenko, who probably has the best shot of getting drafted out of the three. He hasn’t had a spectacular season by any means in the QMJHL, but he’s savvy in his own zone and will get plenty of ice time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Projection</strong></h2>



<p>Well, you know, it’s fantastic that Latvia managed to pull off a big victory in August. But with teams at close to full strength this time around, I fully expect Latvia to play in the relegation round. The Latvians should be able to match up against Switzerland, but the Swiss have a bit more depth. Someone needs to be able to take charge for the Latvians, and I don’t think they have that. But, at the very least, I think they should hold their own quite nicely against Austria if it comes down to that in the relegation round. If it works out, they should come back stronger for 2024 after getting two years out of their U-18 talent in the top division of that tournament. </p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="7" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="170"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recently-by-steven-ellis">Recently by Steven Ellis</h2>



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