Canada was just a step ahead of Latvia in a 2-1 overtime win on Saturday at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minnesota.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / TIM AUSTEN
Revenge was in the air as Canada edged Latvia 2-1 in overtime on Saturday afternoon at 3M Arena at Mariucci. Michael Hage scored the game-winner at 0:44 in this hard-fought and surprisingly close affair.
On a 4-on-3 power play, Hage, in the left faceoff circle, one-timed home a nice cross-ice feed from Gavin McKenna. It was McKenna's second assist of the game and fourth tournament point.
"He's a special player," said Canadian goalie Jack Ivankovic of Hage, his University of Michigan teammate. "He's awesome. When you give him so much time and space, the puck's going to go in the net."
Last year, Latvia earned an historic 3-2 upset over Canada on Day Two in Ottawa, riding a 55-save performance by goalie Linards Feldbergs and a shootout goal by Eriks Mateiko to victory. The plucky Latvians almost did it again.
"We didn't come here to lose," said top Latvian defender Alberts Smits. "We think we came here to win every game and fight for the win in every game. So we're a little bit frustrated."
In regulation time, Canada's Cole Reschny scored a second-period power play goal. Latvia's Rudolfs Berzkalns got the equalizer with under two minutes left.
Ivankovic, who played in the loss to Latvia last year, made 29 saves for the victory. Latvian goalie Nils Maurins made an excellent World Junior debut with 36 stops.
The Latvians are clearly no longer intimidated by the red Maple Leaf. According to head coach Artis Abols, they also recognize the style of hockey they need to play to be successful.
'You need to see what you have," Abols said. "You can't play that open hockey with a speedy and skillful team like Canada. We want to be aggressive. But you know, if you have a gun with 100 bullets, you can shoot all over. But if you have a gun with 10 bullets, you need to be smart."
Canada now leads Group B with five points. Coach Dale Hunter's troops are still figuring out their game after struggling defensively in the 7-5 opening win over the Czechs.
In a scoreless first period, the Latvians came out of the gate hard. Both sides laid the body and blocked shots with enthusiasm.
The Latvians thought they’d opened the scoring with under six minutes left in the first, but video review confirmed that Markuss Sieradzkis had kicked the puck in and it was overturned.
At 1:43 of the second period, Latvian forward Martins Klaucans was ejected from the game with a five-minute major for checking to the head on Canadian defencmean Zayne Parekh.
It took just 39 seconds for Reschny to capitalize, taking a pass from McKenna, stickhandling to the slot and zapping a wrist shot past Maurins. Tij Iginla nearly added another goal on the same power play, but his shot rang off the post.
Just past the midpoint, the Latvians got their first power play as blueliner Ben Danford took a double-minor for high-sticking. But they couldn't generate anything. The defensive duel continued into the third period.
McKenna complimented the Latvian effort: "They work hard. They bring a lot of energy. And they played well."
Brady Martin nearly doubled Canada's lead late in the third period, ringing a long shot off the cross bar.
The never-say-die Latvians tied the game with 1:58 left in regulation. Berzkalns barged to the net to bang in the rebound from Krisjanis Jarns' long shot, sparking an ecstatic goal celebration.
"There's no time to really hang your heads," said Hage. "I felt like we were pretty confident that we were still going to win that game."
Latvia was called for delay of game when Roberts Naudins flipped the puck over the glass in his own zone with 51 seconds left. Heroic shot-blocking on the Latvian PK got the game to overtime, but victory would be Canada's.
Appraising Canada's play in Minnesota so far, McKenna said: "They're both wins. You know, we scored seven last game, but we gave up five. This game, we only scored two. So there's things we've got to work on in both games. But both wins, so I'll take both."
Last year’s upset marked the first time Latvia had ever beaten Canada in five meetings. The previous scores favoured Canada 16-0 (2010 WJC), 10-2 (2017 WJC), 5-2 (2022 WJC), and 10-0 (2024 WJC),
Next up, Latvia battles Finland on Sunday, while Canada takes on Denmark on Monday.
On a 4-on-3 power play, Hage, in the left faceoff circle, one-timed home a nice cross-ice feed from Gavin McKenna. It was McKenna's second assist of the game and fourth tournament point.
"He's a special player," said Canadian goalie Jack Ivankovic of Hage, his University of Michigan teammate. "He's awesome. When you give him so much time and space, the puck's going to go in the net."
Last year, Latvia earned an historic 3-2 upset over Canada on Day Two in Ottawa, riding a 55-save performance by goalie Linards Feldbergs and a shootout goal by Eriks Mateiko to victory. The plucky Latvians almost did it again.
"We didn't come here to lose," said top Latvian defender Alberts Smits. "We think we came here to win every game and fight for the win in every game. So we're a little bit frustrated."
In regulation time, Canada's Cole Reschny scored a second-period power play goal. Latvia's Rudolfs Berzkalns got the equalizer with under two minutes left.
Ivankovic, who played in the loss to Latvia last year, made 29 saves for the victory. Latvian goalie Nils Maurins made an excellent World Junior debut with 36 stops.
The Latvians are clearly no longer intimidated by the red Maple Leaf. According to head coach Artis Abols, they also recognize the style of hockey they need to play to be successful.
'You need to see what you have," Abols said. "You can't play that open hockey with a speedy and skillful team like Canada. We want to be aggressive. But you know, if you have a gun with 100 bullets, you can shoot all over. But if you have a gun with 10 bullets, you need to be smart."
Canada now leads Group B with five points. Coach Dale Hunter's troops are still figuring out their game after struggling defensively in the 7-5 opening win over the Czechs.
In a scoreless first period, the Latvians came out of the gate hard. Both sides laid the body and blocked shots with enthusiasm.
The Latvians thought they’d opened the scoring with under six minutes left in the first, but video review confirmed that Markuss Sieradzkis had kicked the puck in and it was overturned.
At 1:43 of the second period, Latvian forward Martins Klaucans was ejected from the game with a five-minute major for checking to the head on Canadian defencmean Zayne Parekh.
It took just 39 seconds for Reschny to capitalize, taking a pass from McKenna, stickhandling to the slot and zapping a wrist shot past Maurins. Tij Iginla nearly added another goal on the same power play, but his shot rang off the post.
Just past the midpoint, the Latvians got their first power play as blueliner Ben Danford took a double-minor for high-sticking. But they couldn't generate anything. The defensive duel continued into the third period.
McKenna complimented the Latvian effort: "They work hard. They bring a lot of energy. And they played well."
Brady Martin nearly doubled Canada's lead late in the third period, ringing a long shot off the cross bar.
The never-say-die Latvians tied the game with 1:58 left in regulation. Berzkalns barged to the net to bang in the rebound from Krisjanis Jarns' long shot, sparking an ecstatic goal celebration.
"There's no time to really hang your heads," said Hage. "I felt like we were pretty confident that we were still going to win that game."
Latvia was called for delay of game when Roberts Naudins flipped the puck over the glass in his own zone with 51 seconds left. Heroic shot-blocking on the Latvian PK got the game to overtime, but victory would be Canada's.
Appraising Canada's play in Minnesota so far, McKenna said: "They're both wins. You know, we scored seven last game, but we gave up five. This game, we only scored two. So there's things we've got to work on in both games. But both wins, so I'll take both."
Last year’s upset marked the first time Latvia had ever beaten Canada in five meetings. The previous scores favoured Canada 16-0 (2010 WJC), 10-2 (2017 WJC), 5-2 (2022 WJC), and 10-0 (2024 WJC),
Next up, Latvia battles Finland on Sunday, while Canada takes on Denmark on Monday.
Latvia vs Canada - 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship
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