Latvia has released its squad for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. It features, among others, Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins.
The best Latvia has reached the quarter-finals of an Olympic Winter Games was in 2014 in Sochi. It is the first time since then that Latvia has NHL players in the team.
Twelve teams will play the tournament, which includes three groups with three rounds for each team in each group. The group winners and the best runner-up go directly to the quarter-finals while the other eight teams play a knockout round to produce the remaining four quarter-final teams. The Olympic final will be played on February 22.
Latvia, who play in Group C, will open the tournament against the USA on February 12 and then face Germany on February 14 and Denmark on February 15.
Here is Latvia’s squad for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina (in alphabetical order)
FORWARDS (14)
Renard Krastenberg, Olomouc
In Locmelis, Providence
Kaspars Daugavins, Kassel
Martins Dzierkals, Sparta Praha
Rodrigo Abols, Philadelphia Flyers
Rudolfs Balcers, Zurich
Zemgus Girgenson, Tampa Bay Lightning
Eduard Tralmak, Grand Rapids
Teddy Blueger, Vancouver Canucks
Robert Buckart, Vorarlberg
Oscar Batna, Pelicans
Haralds Egle, Karlovy Vary
Sandis Vilmanis, Charlotte
Eriks Mateiko, Hershey
HILLS (8)
Oskars Cibulskis, Herning
Alberts Smits, Jukurit
Uvis Balinski, Florida Panthers
Ralf Freiberg, Vitkovice
Roberts Mamcics, Karlovy
Janis Jaks, Karlovy
Kristaps Zile, Bili Tygri Liberec
Kristaps Rubins, Plzen
GOALKEEPERS (3)
Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets
Arthur Silow, Pittsburgh Penguins
Christer Gudlewski, Bremerhaven
Worth a look
