Jason LaRose
Coming off a tournament-opening win, Canada’s National Men's Under-18 Team gets right back to action Friday at the 2025 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship, taking on Latvia as prelim play continues in Group A.
Last Game
Canada started fast in its opener Thursday,
scoring five first-period goals in a 9-2 win over Slovakia. The Canadians finished with four power-play goals, two from Cameron
Schmidt (who also had an assist), and got a pair of goals and three assists
from Braeden Cootes, and three helpers from Brady Martin. In all, 13 of the
16 Canadian skaters recorded points and Jack Ivankovic was solid when
called upon in goal, finishing with 22 saves.
The Latvians worked overtime (and more) in their opener Wednesday, getting a shootout winner from Maksims Saperins to earn a 2-1 victory over Norway. Martins Klaucans scored the lone goal for Latvia in regulation, finding the back of the net just 103 seconds after the puck dropped, and Ivans Kufterins was terrific in a 21-save effort (plus all four Norwegian attempts in the shootout).
Last Meeting
Canada and Latvia clashed in the quarterfinals a year ago in Finland. Maxim Massé and Ryder Ritchie scored in the first period before Porter Martone and Jett Luchanko added insurance in the back half of the third as the Canadians continued their march to gold with a 4-0 victory. Carter George was terrific between the pipes en route to Best Goaltender honours, turning aside all 23 shots he faced to earn his second shutout of the tournament.
What to Watch
It sure looks like the power play is going to be a key to the Canadians’ success in Texas, so stay tuned there. But let’s put the spotlight on Cootes, who equalled the Canadian single-game scoring record at the tournament and turned in the first five-point effort since Connor Bedard had two goals and three assists in a quarterfinal win over Czechia in 2021. The Sherwood Park, Alberta, native is no stranger to putting up points – he had 26 goals and 63 points with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, where he was one of the CHL’s few 17-year-old captains this season. He wore the ‘C’ for Canada against the Slovaks, although the leadership group has yet to be officially finalized.
Almost a third of the Latvian roster – eight of 25 – skated in North America this season, but only one suited up in the Canadian Hockey League. Karlis Flugins featured in 52 games for the OHL’s Flint Firebirds, recording 14 points (5-9—14). Latvia also has five players who helped stun Canada in a shootout at the World Juniors in Ottawa – Martins Klaucans, Olivers Murnieks, Roberts Naudins, Krisjanis Sarts and Daniels Serkins. Serkins is the one to watch in the eyes of the scouts; the Latvian captain has appeared on NHL Draft lists throughout the season after posting 22 points (9-13—22) in 35 games with SC Bern in the Swiss U20 league.
A Look Back
This is the eighth meeting between Canada and Latvia at the IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship, with the Canadians earning wins in each of the previous seven, outscoring the Latvians 40-12.
The 2015 tournament opener in Switzerland was absolutely wild; Latvia led 3-2 after one period, only for Canada to score six unanswered goals – by six different players – in the second. Both teams then scored three goals in the final frame in what ended as an 11-6 win for the Canadians. Jeremy Roy had a hat trick, Mitchell Stephens scored twice and added an assist, and Mathew Barzal chipped in three helpers.
All-time record: Canada leads 7-0 Canada goals: 40 Latvia goals: 12