Blue Jackets Goalie was given a big honor today by the Latvian National Team.

The goalie was selected as one of the first six players for TEAM LATVIA, which will compete in the upcoming Winter Olympics in 2026. This will be Elvis' first Olympic Games. 

In 2016, Elvis went 1-1 with a .931 SV% in the Olympic Games Qualifiers. Latvia failed to qualify for the 2018 Winter Games. 

In 2026, Merzlikins will play along side Arturs Silovs in net. 

Merzlikins does have his fair share of International experience, most recently in the 2024 IIHF World Championships, where he went 2-2 with a .826 SV%. He turned down an invitation this spring to play in the IIHF Worlds for personal reasons. 

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