Canada bounced back from its opening night loss, defeating Latvia on day two of the 2026 IIHF Men’s U18 World Championship.

After losing to Slovakia for the first time in the history of this tournament, Thursday's 6-0 victory was more like business as usual. Adam Valentini and Dima Zhilkin each had a goal and an assist to lead the scoring.

“I thought we responded very well,” said Valentini, whose partnership with Mathis Preston and Thomas Vandenberg was a constant threat.. “We brought it today. we’re going to keep building and hopefully get better as games go on.”

Latvian captain Davids Tarvids felt the scoreline did not entirely reflect the game.

“The start wasn’t great but the guys were ready for sure,” he said. 

“We had to play more defence but we still created some chances and if we could have scored them it would have changed the game. But we worked as a team all the way.”

That “not great" start saw Canada get in front after just 52 seconds. The opening goal was a nightmare for Latvia’s Adrians Klavins, whose clearance went straight to Preston in centre ice. He advanced to test rap a shot into Ilja Nikitins’ pads, and Vanderberg was all alone to convert the rebound.

When Canada got on the power play a couple of minutes later, it was easy to fear the worst for Latvia. But Olegs Sorokins’ team dug in, killing that penalty and hanging around in the game.

There were even reminders that Canada could not take any opponent lightly here in Trencin: as Martins Klaucans emerged from the penalty box, he got onto Kristers Obuks’ pass and advanced down the left-hand channel before testing Canadian goalie Carter Esler.
 
Canada increased its lead on 12:59 through Tynan Lawrence. The Boston University centre won an attacking face-off and dished the puck off for Zhilkin. Some good work out on the left boards pulled Markuss Saviels out of position, creating space for Lawrence to collect a pass an advance to slide a shot across the front of the net and in at the back door.

The second period almost began like the first. Just 60 seconds in, Canada was celebrating a third goal. This time, though, the video review offered Latvia a reprieve, showing that Vandenberg’s shot dropped to safety after hitting the underside of the crossbar. Nikitins was alert, freezing the puck before Valentini could snaffle any rebound.

But Valentini would not be denied. The next play saw the 18-year-old Michigan Wolverine turning tight circles to throw the Latvian defence off his scent. With a clear path to the net, he got up close and executed a forehand-backhand play to make it 3-0.

“We brought it in, my two linemates chipped it in to me,” Valentini said of his goal. “I cut back a couple of times and found my way to the net front and luckily I got it in.”

Latvia came close to pulling a goal back on its first power play of the game. Olivers Murnieks, at the heart of much of his team’s offence, slammed a shot into the post after 24 minutes. Later, Lawrence went close to his second of the day when he dinged the piping at the other end.

Midway through the third, Canada increased the lead with a power play goal. Valentini was the provider, with a feed from a similar spot to his assist against Slovakia yesterday. This time Zhilkin was the recipient, banging the puck home from the slot.

Latvia battled hard throughout the game but tired in the closing minutes. That saw Canada pad its lead with late goals from Kohyn Eshkawkogan and Zach Olsen to complete a big win. Esler completed the first shut-out of the 2026 championship with 18 saves.

The Latvians continue on Friday evening against Finland. Canada has a rest day before resuming against Norway on Saturday.