We are just about three weeks away from the 2025 World Juniors Tournament in Ottawa, Canada, and excitement is in the air. The tension and parity that are commonplace in this “slot machine” of competition are expected to be turned up to 11—one of the biggest reasons is the return of the always gritty, team Latvia.
This tiny Baltic nation has routinely been a hard and suffocating team to play against since they were promoted back to the top stage in 2022. They have become a team that I have always found myself rooting for in these tournaments and I can’t wait to see which new, unknown name will stand out for them this year. Even though the Latvians are losing the likes of Dans Locmelis, Sandis Vilmanis, and Niks Fenenko to age this year, they will still be threats to upset a big team throughout the tournament with their projected squad.
After finishing 7th in 2022, they have finished 9th and 8th in their last two appearances. They will be dealt an unlucky hand once again by being placed in Group A, where they will play the U.S., Canada, Finland, and Germany. That is a tough draw for anyone, but luckily, they are not in danger of being relegated this year and should be close to (if not evenly matched with) the Germans. With their opponents out of the way, let’s project this roster.
Goaltenders
Linards Feldbergs (Sherbrooke – QMJHL)*
Aksels Ozols (Zemgale – Latvia)*
Mikus Vecvanags (Brooks – BCHL)
In Consideration: Regnars Capars (Lidingö – J18 Region)
* – Signifies Returnee from 2024
With Deivs Rolovs fully aged out, in comes Linards Feldbergs to become the starter for this year’s Latvian team. Feldbergs, along with Ozols, are projected to both return this year and I have decided to favor Sherbrooke’s starter to be the leading man in net for the Latvians. After going 25th in this past CHL import draft to the Phoenix, Feldbergs has played well in net, putting up a .900 SV% and a 2.51 GAA.
Though I project he will be backing up Feldbergs, Aksels Ozols has looked fine in the top Latvian league with Zemgale. Ozols is back playing in his home country after a tough backup stint with the Charlottetown Islanders last year. Mikus Vecvanags should be named as the 3rd goalie after being drafted by the Montreal Canadiens this past June. However, I don’t expect him to see much playing time, as he has seen just 4 starts as the backup for the Brooks Bandits in the BCHL. The University of Maine commit has won 3 of his 4 starts but has allowed 13 goals through that stretch, posting a .877 SV% through that time. I wanted to quickly throw the name Regnars Capars into the mix as well. Capars is playing extremely well for Lindingö in the J18 in Sweden, putting up a .920 SV% while facing an average of 47 shots per night. If, for whatever reason, one of the aforementioned three doesn’t make the team, Capars has as good a shot as any to crack this roster. All told, fans of the Q should recognize at least 2 of these 3 goalies and get excited, as they’ll be a fun little tandem to watch.
Defensemen
Darels Uljanskis (AIK – J20 Nationell)*
Peteris Bulans (Chicoutimi – QMJHL)*
Viktors Kurbaka (Oceláři Třinec – Czechia U20)*
Bruno Petrovics (JYP – SM-sarja)
Kristers Urbanovics (Kärpät – SM-sarja)*
Harijs Cjunskis (Rouyn-Noranda – QMJHL)
Ingus Locmelis (Fairbanks – NAHL)*
In Consideration: Krists Retenais, Aleks Leonovs, Emils Skeltins
* – Signifies Returnee from 2024
Remarkably, 5 of Latvia’s 7 defensemen from last year’s tournament are eligible for return in December. Immediately, Uljanskis and Bulans jumped off the page for me with their play this year. Uljanskis was a 7th-round pick for Anaheim this past draft and has looked excellent for AIK’s J20 squad, notching 5 goals and 17 points through 24 games. He will be looking for a call-up to the Allsvenskan sooner rather than later. Peteris Bulans has looked similarly great with Chicoutimi in the QMJHL, putting up 14 points in 24 games with the Saguenéens.
After the two headliners, I predict Kristers Urbanovics and Viktors Kurbaka should be heavier contributors in their second tournaments respectively. Both have had slow starts offensively to their seasons, but remain the best options available for this Latvian defensive core. Bruno Petrovics and Harijs Cjunskis are two former U18 WJC veterans who should be in the mix this year. Petrovics has been relied upon in some big minutes for JYP’s junior team in Finland and plays a hard-nosed game, which is characteristic of Latvian defensemen of years past. Cjunskis has played a similar “shutdown” role for a competitive Rouyn-Noranda squad this year. Ingus Locmelis is my 7th defenseman on the list, mainly as a result of his feature on the 3rd pairing of last year’s team. He has had a down year in the NAHL, recording 0 points in 17 games with Fairbanks, and could be overtaken in camp by any of Krists Retenais, Aleks Leonovs, or Emils Skeltins. I have found myself loving the NAHL’s Skeltins as a dark horse for the 7th defenseman slot due to his size (6’5), his right shot, and his production this year. Overall, Latvia’s defense will be afforded the luxury of tournament experience with their 5 returnees on the backend, which should give them strength.
Forwards
Eriks Mateiko (Saint John – QMJHL)*
Bruno Osmanis (IF Björklöven – Allsvenkskan)
Karlis Flugins (Flint – OHL)
Toms Mots (Zemgale – Latvia)*
Olivers Murnieks (Sioux City – USHL)
Kristers Ansons (HK Mogo – Latvia)*
Rauls Ozollapa (HC Prerov – Czechia2)*
Valdis Dommers (HK Mountfields – Czechia U20)
Kristofers Krumins (New Jersey – NAHL)*
Markuss Streikiss (Zemgale – Latvia)
Markus Kristians Sieradzkis (IF Björklöven – J20 Nationell)
Marks Mezins (Njurunda – J20 Region)
Davids Livsics (Roki – SM-sarja)
Raivis Strazdins (Roki – SM-sarja)
Latvia loves their tall, physical forwards and, yet again, their roster is flooded with them. Eriks Mateiko put up a monster DY+1 season with Saint John in the Q last year, good enough for Washington to take him in the 3rd round of the draft. He is on another heater as the Seadogs’ captain this year, putting up 19 points (14 goals) in 24 games.
I have slated all 4 of Toms Mots, Kristers Ansons, Rauls Ozollapa, and Kristers Krumins to return to this roster as well. Mots really made a name for himself at last year’s tournament, playing on a line with Mateiko and showing out in their victory against Germany. Krumins and Ozollapa both embody the height and style of play that the Latvians want to bring to the fray, as they will be relied on as power forwards. Kristers Ansons made Latvia’s roster in 2024, yet made no appearances in any game. Expect him to be a regular in the lineup, standing at 6’4 and having an impressive start to his season with HK Mogo in the Latvian league.
I have decided to roster one 2025 draft eligible and two 2026 draft eligibles onto this team. Bruno Osmanis has as good a case as any to hear his name called this June, finding himself a regular in the lineup for both IF Björklöven’s J20 and Allsvenskan team. He has put up 6 points through 12 games playing against men in the Allsvenskan, even though he hasn’t played more than ten minutes a game for them this season. Karlis Flugins and Olivers Murnieks won’t hear their names be called until 2026, yet are playing great hockey in their respective North American major junior leagues. Karlis Flugins is playing 4th line minutes for Flint in the OHL, but should still add some offensive firepower for the Latvians in this tournament. Murnieks has looked brilliant with Sioux City in the USHL, recording 12 points through 20 contests. Standing at 6’1, he is more likely than Flugins (5’11) to make an impact on this roster filled with towers.
To round out the final 6 forwards, I have chosen a smattering of players from past U18 squads who I felt were performing well this season or fit the physical characteristics of Latvian World Juniors teams past. Valdis Dommers, David Livsics, Marks Mezins, and Markus Kristians Sieradzkis have all stood out for their offensive talents to start the year, with Mezins and Sieradzkis stealing the limelight in particular with their respective Swedish junior teams (Njurunda & IF Björklöven). Raivis Strazdins and Markuss Streikiss are two power forwards who will have to be marked in the game notes for their play-driving abilities. Among these 14 forwards, I expect Streikiss and Dommers to be used as extras come tournament time.
All things considered, I expect a full roster for Latvia to look something similar to this lineup.
Team Latvia Roster Projection
Toms Mots – Kristofers Krumins – Eriks Mateiko
Kristers Ansons – Raul Ozollapa – Bruno Osmanis
Markus Kristians Sieradzkis – Olivers Murnieks – Raivis Strazdins
Karlis Flugins – Davids Livsics – Marks Mezins
Markus Streikiss – Valdis Dommers
Darels Uljanskis – Peteris Bulans
Kristers Urbanovics – Bruno Petrovics
Viktors Kurbaka – Harijs Cjunskis
Ingus Locmelis
Linards Feldbergs
Aksels Ozols
Mikus Vecvanags
Conclusion
Wins against Team Latvia aren’t always cheap in this tournament, and this squad is out to prove that fact yet again this year. Coach Artis Abols has made more with less every year that Latvia has featured in this tournament, and they are bound to make some noise yet again. Though they have quite the murderers’ row of teams to go through in their group, they could realistically beat Germany this year in the round-robin, avoiding the relegation game. Personally, I am intrigued more than anything to see how this roster comes together come Christmastime and am looking forward to watching their highly-paced and highly physical style of play that fans have grown to love over the past three tournaments.
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