IIHF Men’s World Championship

Latvia kicked off the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship with a stunning 3-2 shootout win over Canada. The hosts were stunned as Linards Feldbergs made 55 shots and then denied all 8 shootout attempts. Ēriks Mateiko, who also scored in the third period, had the winning shot. Latvia would proceed to reach the quarterfinals for the third time in four years, following a 4-3 overtime win with Germany, which gave them two preliminary round wins for a first time ever.

This wasn’t the first time that a Latvian national team made noise on the international stage. Below is a list of the most significant upsets Latvia has made in hockey.

Latvia 3 – 2 Russia

Latvia stunned Russia with a 3-2 win at the 2000 World Championship in Saint Petersburg. Aleksandrs Semjonovs scored a pair of goals within a 1:40 in the second period and Artūrs Irbe made 37 saves, to lead Latvia to the win. A 1-1 draw in their next against the United States helped send the Latvians to their first ever quarterfinal appearance, meanwhile the Russians shockingly missed the playoffs at a third consecutive championship.

Artūrs Irbe spoke about the game years later: “It was good for soul, including myself and I do not think I have really cried in my whole career by winning games or winning tournaments but that was the one game I cried and I am not in any way ashamed of it. That was the proudest moment being a Latvian as far as I can remember in my whole life. It (beating Canada) would be big but you can’t compare those two teams. It (beating Russia) is more sticking it to the oppressors and we have been oppressed for so long. It (resentment towards Russia) is in our hearts and bodies and our soul and it does not have to be taught. It is just there and when you play them you want to beat them and you know what it means for the coach, for the relatives and for the ones that have suffered during the Gulag (prisons) and all the oppressed years.”

Latvia 3 – 3 United States

While it was not a victory, tying the reigning Olympic silver medallists, the United States, was certainly a historical result for Latvia. The Latvians got three consecutive goals from Aleksandrs Ņiživijs, Atvars Tribuncovs, and Herberts Vasiļjevs, while Artūrs Irbe made 39 saves in a 3-3 draw. Unfortunately, that was Latvia’s high-point at the Turin Olympics. They later suffered defeats to Slovakia (3-6), Sweden (1-6), Russia (2-9), and Kazakhstan (2-5).

Latvia 3 – 2 Sweden

Latvia had never beat Sweden at any level ahead of the 2009 Men’s World Championship. That changed when Latvia pulled off a 3-2 shootout win during Group C action. Edgars Masaļskis was stellar in net and made 38 saves, while Aleksandrs Ņiživijs — who was known for his shootout success with Latvia — had the winning goal. This victory would mark a winning streak of four games, also notably taking down hosts Switzerland in a shootout, to achieve a third ever quarterfinal appearance.

Latvia 2 – 0 Canada

Latvia began the 2021 World Championship with a remarkable 2-0 victory over Canada. The Latvians had just 1 tie and 19 losses in their previous 20 meetings with the eventual world champions. Goals from Miks Indrašis and Oskars Batņa, along with a 38-save shutout by the late Matīss Kivlenieks, were the difference in this upset. Sadly, no fans were able to attend the spectacle in Rīga due to COVID-19 regulations.

Matīss Kivlenieks tragically passed away just under two months after this stunning win.

Latvia 5 – 2 Czechia

Latvia was not supposed to participate at the Top Division of the 2022 World Junior Championship. Thanks to the tournament being rescheduled to August and both Russia and Belarus being banned, Latvia was promoted in replacement. Latvia took advantage of the opportunity by forcing Slovakia to a shootout and then upsetting Czechia by a 5-2 score. Defender Ralfs Sebastjans Bergmanis was the hero in their first ever preliminary round victory, by scoring a natural hat-trick against the Czechs.

The Latvians gave Sweden their all in a 2-1 quarterfinal loss and ultimately placed seventh — their best finish to date.

2023 Men’s World Championship

The entire 2023 World Championship in Riga and Tampere was historical for Latvia. After opening the tournament with losses to Canada (0-6) and Slovakia (1-2), the Latvians found their game and went on a magical run. It all began with a 4-3 overtime victory against Czechia, which remains their only win against the Czechs at the senior level. Oskars Batņa’s winning goal started the party at Arēna Rīga.

Latvia’s tournament continued with wins against Norway (2-1), Slovenia (3-2), Kazakhstan (7-0), and Switzerland (4-3 OT). Their winning ways continued into the playoffs where they pulled off another upset, this time beating Sweden 3-1, to advance to a first ever semifinal. Miks Indrašis scored a stunning goal in the third period which stood as the winner, thanks to 40 saves by Artūrs Šilovs.

The semifinal round shifted from Rīga to Tampere, but you could not tell from the pro-Latvian crowd. Despite falling 4-2 against Canada in a hard-fought game, the Latvians still had a lot to play for in the bronze medal game. Latvia had beat the United States 3 times in 17 meetings ahead of this match. Despite trailing 3-2 with under six minutes remaining, Latvia did not give up, and got a tying goal from Kristiāns Rubīns. The defender then made history by completing a two-goal effort with his electric overtime winner. This win was marked as a national holiday in Latvia!

Artūrs Šilovs, who was just 22-years-old at the time, was named the tournament’s Best Goaltender and Most Valuable Player for his terrific performance. The Vancouver Canucks goaltender had 7 wins, a 92.1 SV%, a 2.20 GAA, and 1 shutout in 10 games at the championship.