Latvia’s projected selection for the Winter Olympics 2026 – The Hockey Writers Olympics Latest News, Analysis and more

With the Winter Olympics from 2026 just over six months away from the beginning, there has been a lot of excitement and curiosity about what every country participates in the ice hockey part of the men’s Olympic Games. While countries such as the United States and Canada rightly attract a lot of attention for the firepower they bring every time, there are countries that fly under the radar and make some noise. One of those countries is Latvia, which returns to the Olympic Games, after earning a place through the 2025 Olympic Games qualifying match. They mentioned the first six players who will attract the Latvian sweater, including two two -less than NHL experience in Elvis Merzlikins and Artus Silovs, so what could the rest of the selection look like when February 2026 come?

Other Olympic schedule forecasts from 2026:

Projected schedule for Latvia

With a lot of time between now and February, players can easily make their way to be taken into account to represent Latvia at the Olympic Games. From now on their projected selection is based on experiences from the past and playing in the run-up to the 2025-26 season.

The Latvian selection brings a solid mix of NHL experience, with Girgensons and Blueger who both play more than 400-plus matches in the competition, as well as a lot of international game. Although the country did not register a victory at the 2022 Olympic Games, they will return many players who participated, with 13 players who went back to the Olympic stage. Because they are more an outdated grid, the Latvians would be able to understand the moment of playing on such a large stage, although not necessarily have the most offensive gifted selection.

In general, the forward group brings a solid mix of production and rolling players from top to bottom, with the aforementioned Girgensons and Blueger who bring the firepower. A player who could be a breakout candidate for the Latvian is Dans Locmelius, a pick from the fourth round of 2022 by the Boston Bruins who has worked his way to the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Providence Bruins. There is a lot of North -American experience in the forward grouping.

Related: 2026 Olympic Winter Games schedule and group savings announced

Defensive trust the Lets again at veterans experience at international level, where every projected defender outside Janis Jaks plays in five or more world championships for their home country. They also have a duo in Kristans Rubins and Roberts Mamcics, who bring a lot of size, each on 6-foot-5. The defensive group may not have set up many attacking figures, but they will play solid defense and ensure that their opponents know who they played at the end of each match.

In the fold, Merzlikins gets his first chance to represent his country at the Olympic Games. He has had an up and down career with the Columbus Blue Jackets so far, but combined with Silovs (Pittsburgh Penguins), they can create a strong one-two punch as head coach Harijs Vītoliņš decides to give both just lame playing time. Silovs comes from a strong season with the AHL -Affiliate from Vancouver Canucks, the Abbotsford Canucks, ending in a Calder Cup (AHL champions), before being sent to the Penguins this season.

Final word

Of NHL players who return to the Olympic Games In 2026 this will certainly help Letland to give a deeper and more competent selection, especially with their goalkeepers. If the hockey world has learned something about the Latvian national team (especially the World Junior Championship 2025), they will be a difficult team to play against and beat with their non-stop, hard-working mentality and strong goaltents. This time they will definitely want to win.

Just missed to make the cut: Linards Feldbergs (G), Sandis Valmanis (W), Miks Tomanvos (D), Ralph Bergman (D), Anri Ravinsky (W), Raivis Ansons (W) (W)