Latvia pulls off massive upset over Canada at 2025 World Juniors

OTTAWA – Latvia has pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Junior Championship history, beating Canada 3-2 in the shootout.

It was the first time Latvia has ever beat Canada at the World Juniors. It was also the first time out of five meetings that Canada didn’t score at least five goals, and the second time where they didn’t score at least 10.

Canada’s Jett Luchanko killed the deadlock midway through the second period when he scored on a shorthanded breakaway opportunity. From there, the two goalies stood tall, with Linards Feldbergs shutting down Canada whenever they tried to throw something at him.

Latvia kept in it, hanging in until the very end. At 53:18 on the power play, Washington Capitals prospect Eriks Mateiko took a feed from Bruno Osmanis and scored to make it 1-1, ending Canada’s shutout effort.

But with 5:38 left to go, Canada got back in front. On the power play, Easton Cowan found Calum Ritchie all alone, and the Colorado Avalanche prospect blasted a shot past Feldbergs to make it 2-1.

But it still wasn’t done. With time running out, Peteris Bulans scored through traffic, beating a screened Jack Ivankovic to force overtime – and, eventually, a shootout. It took a while, but Mateiko would finish the game with a goal on his second attempt to secure the victory.

It was a tough game by Canada’s standards, who struggled to find chemistry and execute on tape-to-tape passes. More importantly, though, was the fact that top defenseman and 2025 NHL Draft prospect Matthew Schaefer was forced to leave the game with a suspected arm injury early in the first period. He never returned to the ice.

Here’s a look at the top performers from Friday night’s action:

Canada

#21 Calum Ritchie, C (Colorado Avalanche): Coach Dave Cameron relied on Ritchie’s NHL experience to lead the way in the third. He was given so many chances to convert and didn’t lose many 1-on-1 battles anywhere on the ice. The Avalanche prospect was snakebitten a bit – and his linemates couldn’t convert on the chances – until he eventually did in the third period. His blast on the power play gave Canada the lead, but it wasn’t enough in the end.

#12 Jett Luchanko, C (Philadelphia Flyers): Luchanko scored the 1-0 goal on what can essentially be boiled down to a workman-like effort. He pushed the issue and created the breakaway before beating Feldbergs with a great deke. Luchanko then had a few chances in the third to bring the energy and while he couldn’t convert again, I thought he was one of Canada’s more consistent forwards.

#6 Tanner Molendyk, D (Nashville Predators): Molendyk didn’t do a whole lot offensively, but I liked his game defensively. He was easily the most mobile defender Canada had and was promoted to the top power-play unit once Schaefer went down with an injury. I liked him best in the third period, especially one shift about eight minutes in when he broke up three Latvian rushes in a 30-second span. Look for Molendyk to be counted on even more if Schaefer is out any longer.

Latvia

#29 Linards Feldbergs, G (Undrafted): Fifty-four saves. Wow. Feldbergs was absolutely dialed in today, putting on an absolute clinic in net. Feldbergs was great on cross-ice passes and was excellent on his feet, too. The Sherbrooke Phoenix goaltender has never served as a starter at any major international tournament but with the way he played against Canada, you have to think they’ll ride him for the important matchup against Germany later in the tournament. Just truly a tremendous effort.

#22 Valdis Dommers, RW (Undrafted): Dommers laid his life on the line every time the Latvians found themselves on the penalty kill. He had three blocks on one kill in the first and another two in the second period. Sure, he was bruised and battered, but his commitment to keeping the puck away from Feldbergs was commendable.

#9 Eriks Mateiko, C (Washington Capitals): With a goal in regulation and then the shootout winner, you couldn’t have asked for a better night for Mateiko. The big center came up clutch when he needed to to capitalize on the upset. Welcome to Lavian hockey folk lore history.

Article presented by Fountain Tire

At Fountain Tire, you don’t have to choose between a good deal or excellent service—they offer both. They treat your vehicle like their own, providing detailed inspections, photos, and updates on what’s fine, what needs attention, and what can wait. Offering top-quality tires and products from brands like Goodyear, safety is their top priority. Every visit ensures you’re as safe as possible on the road. If you need new tires, or your vehicle’s making a funny noise, stop by Fountain Tire. They’ll take care of it, or you can book an appointment online at www.fountaintire.com.