Predicting Latvia's 2026 Olympic roster
© Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports - Predicting Latvia's 2026 Olympic rosterWhen they beat France 5-2 on home ice on Sunday, the Latvians qualified for the men’s ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics for the fifth time out of the last six possibilities. Only once, in 2014 in Sochi, did Latvia reach the quarterfinals.
Looking ahead to Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in 2026, here is my attempt to predict Latvia’s 25-man roster.
In goal, much ado was made about Artūrs Šilovs’ last-minute exclusion from the Olympic qualifying team due to a minor injury. But the Vancouver Canucks netminder is expected to recover quickly and he’s easily the best Latvian goalie in the world right now – even better than Elvis Merzlikins, who for the past few seasons has not been the goalie he was earlier in his career. However, goaltending always seems to be a position of strength for Latvia, and that continues to be the case.
I’ve decided to bring back the exact same corps of defensemen that were used at the Olympic qualifiers. Presumably, Harijs Vītoliņš and staff were able to choose the eight d-men they wanted – led by the Florida Panthers’ Uvis Balinskis and veteran Oskars Cibuļskis – without restrictions and there doesn’t seem to be any young Latvian defensemen that will have significantly improved by that time.
Up front, center Teodors Bļugers (known in North America as Teddy Blueger) is definitely worthy of a spot, and there are a couple of young AHLers to keep an eye on: Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Raivis Ansons and Florida prospect Sandis Vilmanis, who will be 24 and 22, respectively, at the time of the Olympics. I’ve added Ansons due to his age advantage but either or both could conceivably make the team.
The 2026 Olympics might be the last international hurrah for a few veterans, particularly Cibuļskis and long-time captain Kaspars Daugaviņš, who will both be 37 at the time of the Games.
Goaltenders: Artūrs Šilovs, Elvis Merzļikins, Kristers Gudļevskis.
Defensemen: Uvis Balinskis, Oskars Cibuļskis, Ralfs Freibergs, Jānis Jaks, Markuss Komuls, Roberts Mamčics, Kristiāns Rubīns, Kristaps Zīle.
Forwards: Rodrigo Ābols, Raivis Ansons, Rudolfs Balcers, Oskars Batņa, Teodors Bļugers, Rihards Bukarts, Roberts Bukarts, Kaspars Daugaviņš (C), Mārtiņš Dzierkals, Fēlikss Gavars, Zegmus Girgensons, Miks Indrašis, Dans Ločmelis, Eduards Tralmarks.
Related articles: