2025 World Junior Championship Team of Latvia Final List – Hockey Writers – World Junior Hockey Championship

With the IIHF World Junior Championship just around the corner, Team Latvia announced its final roster on Wednesday morning. Head coach Artis Abols will be leading Latvia's under-20 team for the fourth year in a row.

While there are a few returning players, many of Latvia's NHL prospects from last year have grown up. As a result, this year they will bring a group of players that look very different.

Goals

(Linards Felbergs, Aksels Ozols, Janis Fecers)

Two goalkeepers, Linards Felbergs and Aksels Ozols, will return from last year's team. Ozols returned to the Latvian Optibet Hokeja Liga this season after signing with the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the 2023-24 season. Arbols will be very familiar with Ozols, as the 19-year-old has been his netminder for HK Zemgale this season. In 11 games with Zemgale, Ozols has a .922 save percentage (SV%) and a 1.96 goals against average (GAA).

On the other hand, Felbergs made the jump to North America this season when he became the starting goaltender for the QMJHL's Sherbrooke Phoenix. In 21 games, he recorded an .899 SV% and a 2.51 GAA.

Neither goalie had a strong 2024 campaign, however, as last year's starter Deivs Rolovs has aged. As a result, both will have a clean slate and an open opportunity to get the starting job.

Newcomer Janis Fecers plays for Herning Blue Fox in Denmark's Metal Ligaen. Given his age and lack of experience at international level, he is unlikely to break into a starting role but certainly not impossible. In seven games with the Blue Fox, he has a .894 SV% and a 2.10 GAA.

The protectors

(Viktors Kurbaka, Oskars Briedis, Darels Uljanskis, Peteris Bulans, Harijs Cjunskis, Krisjanis Sarts, Emils Skeltins, Krists Retenais)

Latvia had a slight advantage on the blue line, with only three players returning on defense. The captain will be Peteris Bulans of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the QMJHL. He will be making his second appearance in the tournament. Last year, he recorded one goal and one assist in five games.

Another returning player will be another captain, Viktors Kurbaka. Kurbaka failed to record a point in five games last year, however, he was solid defensively on a team that struggled to block the puck.

Related: Guide to the 2025 World Junior Championship

The only drafted defenseman on this year's team will be Darels Uljanskis, selected in the seventh round of the 2024 Draft by the Anaheim Ducks. Uljanskis took a big step forward in attack and defense for AIK J20 in J20 Nationell. Last season he was tied for the league goalscoring record with defender Daniel Badinka, who has now moved forward. Uljanskis had limited ice time for the Latvian team last year but added one assist in Germany's 6-2 victory in just under seven minutes of ice time.

Forward

(Davids Livsics, Eriks Mateiko, Valdis Dommers, Toms Mots, Rauls Ozollapa, Olivers Murnieks, Bruno Osmanis, Markuss Sieradzkis, Rudolfs Berzkalns, Daniels Serkins, Antons Macijevskis, Dmitrijs Rovert Klascucans, Martins Naudis)

The second and final player selected from Latvia's roster will be fellow captain Eriks Mateiko who was selected in the third round this past summer. The Washington Capitals prospect was also named captain of the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs in October and has thrived in his new role. Mateiko, a 6-foot-6 winger, could easily be one of Latvia's most dangerous players in this tournament. So far this season, he has scored 14 goals in 23 games for the Sea Dogs.

Daniels Serkins may join the small group of Latvians who will be drafted in the NHL, as he is eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft. At 17 years old, the versatile player is a bit undersized at 5-foot-9, however, he has been playing well for Switzerland's SC Bern U20 team. This season, he has collected 18 points in 25 games. A strong showing at the World Junior Championship could do wonders for his draft stock.

The same can be said for 18-year-old Bruno Osmanis, who has been roaming the pace of each game in the J20 Nationell and has seen time with IF Bjorkloven in the HockeyAllsvenskan. Both Serkins and Osmanis will benefit greatly from performing well in this tournament.

The Latvian team is, as usual, something unknown to North American hockey fans. Many of these names will be unfamiliar, as they are not often seen on the main stage. As a result, players will be looking to make an impact and put themselves on the map. Latvia have come up against a tough group, as they will be in Group A with Canada, Finland, the United States, and Germany, so they will have to pull off an upset or two to avoid the relegation game again.

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