2025 World Junior Championship Preview: Avoiding relegation is the goal for Team Latvia

Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

Year after year, it’s the same story for the Latvian junior national team.

They’ve managed to qualify for the quarterfinal just twice in tournament history, often finding themselves fighting to stay alive – if not relegated altogether. This year shouldn’t be any different. Latvia doesn’t have a real game-changing prospect at any position. They’ll have two NHL-drafted players in the lineup, but neither are major needle movers.

Latvia will be in the toughest division of them all this year, starting the tourney with games against Canada and the United States. They’ll have one game with a legitimate shot to win against Germany on Dec. 30 before wrapping things up against a Finnish team that could still have a shot at winning Group A – don’t expect them to back down.

So, how’s this group looking ahead of tournament action in Ottawa?

Looking Back to 2024

Latvia’s tournament started off about as bad as you could ask for. They were outscored 20-0 in the first three games, putting them in a must-win situation against Germany on Dec. 30. Fortunately, a three-goal first period was crucial, helping Latvia advance to the quarterfinals for the second time in three years. Unfortunately, a massive 7-2 loss to the United States ended the team’s tournament early once again, but they at least didn’t have to fight for survival.

Goaltenders

Linards Feldbergs (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)

There might not be a more important position for the Latvians than in net. Linards Feldbergs is back as a 19-year-old after seeing action in one game a year ago (and two men’s senior games, too). He has put up average numbers with the QMJHL’s Sherbrooke Phoenix this season – his first in North America. By all accounts, he’s been getting better with every start as he figures out how to handle the pace and the angles better.

Aksels Ozols was the starter at the U-18s in 2023, and even played 16 minutes at the World Juniors a year ago. Ozols is back in the domestic league in Latvia, where he has established himself as one of the best young goaltenders. His international experience from the past two years should give him a bit of an edge in net, but we’ll see if they go with Feldbergs given the way he has played in the Q.

Are either goalies capable of stealing games? They’ll need to if they’re going to avoid getting sent back down to Division IA. The good news is both have shown they can do at other levels.

Defensemen

*Peteris Bulans (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

While the Latvians won’t have many high-end options, they will have experience with the potential for five players to return. It starts with Anaheim Ducks prospect Darels Uljanskis, who used a solid showing at this event last year to help bolster his draft stock. Uljanskis has a good shot and is quite mobile, too, often joining in on the rush. His numbers might not be anything special in the Swedish U-20 league, but he’s playing quite a bit for AIK – and doing well, to boot.

Peteris Bulans is having a decent third year in the QMJHL, where he has put up modest numbers over the past two years. He had two points at the World Juniors last year, but will be counted on to lead the team’s No. 1 power-play unit this year. Bulans should be counted on to generate scoring chances from the point while playing some decent own-zone hockey – and it felt like he got better as last year’s tournament went on.

Kristers Urbanovičs is a stay-at-home defensive defenseman who isn’t afraid to lay the body. But he also missed a large portion of the season with an injury, so we’ll have to see how good he looks against some of the best young talent in the world. Viktors Kurbaka might not be big, and he’s only playing in the Czech U-20 league, but his speed should give the Latvians a bit of a boost on the back end, too.

On the younger side, Krists Retenais had a decent showing at the U-18s and has spent the past year in the NAHL. We’ll see what type of role he has on a blueline lacking much playmaking skill.

Forwards

*Eriks Mateiko (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Taken 90th overall by the Washington Capitals last June, look for returnee Ēriks Mateiko to play a bigger role for the Latvians. The 6-foot-6 power forward is having a career year with the Saint John Sea Dogs, although his game isn’t about generating high-quality chances. Instead, it’s about taking space away physically and making opponents work extra hard to make an effective play. On this team, though, Latvia will need Mateiko to step things up a notch.

Mateiko will be the lone NHL-drafted forward this year, but they’ll have some other pieces that could prove useful. Toms Mots is a returning forward who doesn’t typically produce a lot internationally, but he’s a hard worker. He also hits hard for a mid-sized winger and can be a bit fearless out on the ice. Kārlis Flugins, meanwhile, is a speedy forward who has spent the year being more of an energy guy with the OHL’s Flint Firebirds. Scouts have said he has really adjusted well to the smaller ice in the O, which is a good sign.

A player with some decent roster flexibility is Daniels Serkins. The 5-foot-9 forward can play a bit of every position up front, and was one of Latvia’s best players at the U-18s last year. He was passed over in the most recent draft and his small stature definitely won’t help him get picked this coming year, but he’s fast, skilled and good with the puck.

Latvia also has some good 2008-born talent, too. Rūdolfs Bērzkalns has spent most of his development time playing in the United States and was quite the U-16 player prior to joining the Muskegon Lumberjacks. The 2026 NHL Draft prospect has modest numbers in the USHL, but he’s a hard-working forward who skates well and has pure, raw skill. Martins Klaucāns is still seeking his first NAHL goal, but he also had a solid showing at the U-18s last year. Roberts Naudins, meanwhile, is a massive 6-fot-6 forward who is turning heads with Shattuck St. Mary’s prep team. He hasn’t played at the U-18 or U-20 level yet for Latvia, but the Harvard University commit is a tough guy to beat.

But nobody will be as heavily guarded as Olivers Mūrnieks, who projects to be Latvia’s second-line center. The 6-foot-1 middleman is having a great first season with the Sioux City Musketeers, sitting third in USHL scoring among U-17 players. He’s been viewed quite highly by Latvian observers in recent years – he had eight goals in three games the U-16 national team two years ago. Most recently, Murnieks was one of Latvia’s top players at the U-18s, playing a bit of everything for them. There’s a realistic chance that Murnieks – who isn’t eligible for the NHL Draft until 2026 – becomes the best goal-scorer the country has ever produced.

2025 NHL Draft

*Bruno Osmanis (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Bruno Osmanis is a late 2006-born forward, having not turned 18 until this past week. The speedy winger is one of Latvia’s best pure-skill forwards, and he has looked good against pro competition in the second-tier Swedish league. The hard-working, relentless forward likes to have the puck on his stick and is physically strong despite not being that big. While he might not be rounded or effective enough to be an NHL pick this coming year, Osmanis is a first-line talent on this Latvian team – a group that can use all the help with the puck that they can get.

Projection

This is a young Latvian team that doesn’t have a ton of skill to work with. Some of their most talented players are 2008-born kids – not eligible until the 2026 and 2027 NHL Drafts. Still, the game against Germany on Dec. 30 is a winnable one – and it’s the one that’ll likely decide who goes to the quarterfinal. Latvia should have the edge over, say, Kazakhstan if the two meet in the relegation round, but avoiding that possibility has to be goal No. 1 at all costs.

Round-Robin Schedule

Dec. 27 vs. Canada: 7:30 PM ET
Dec. 28 vs. USA: 3:30 PM ET
Dec. 30 vs. Germany: 3:30 PM ET
Dec. 31 vs. Finland: 2:30 PM ET

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