Elvis Merzļikins’ Latvian teammate Jēkabs Grīvs will represent Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, stepping in as the Columbus Blue Jackets’ goaltender recovers from injury. The announcement confirms Grīvs’ selection to Canada’s roster for the tournament taking place in Switzerland from May 15 to 31.
Grīvs, who served as Merzļikins’ backup during the 2023-24 NHL season, brings recent North American experience to Canada’s netminding corps. According to verified team records, he appeared in 55 games for the Blue Jackets during his first full NHL season, winning 26 contests while maintaining a 90.8% save percentage and allowing an average of 2.60 goals per game.
The 26-year-old netminder’s performance showed improvement in his second professional season, where he played 11 games with a 93.8% save percentage and a 1.91 goals-against average. His selection comes after Merzļikins was temporarily replaced by Grīvs in net for the Blue Jackets during a March 2024 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, where Grīvs stopped 26 of 31 shots for a 91.7% save percentage.
Canada will compete in Group B at the World Championship alongside Sweden, Czechia, Denmark, Slovakia, Norway, Slovenia and Italy. The tournament opens on May 15 with Canada facing Sweden in Zürich or Fribourg, with both cities hosting matches throughout the 17-day event.
Merzļikins, selected by Columbus in the third round (76th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft, has spent six seasons playing professionally in Switzerland before joining the Blue Jackets organization. His absence from Latvia’s national team roster creates an opportunity for Grīvs to gain international experience with one of hockey’s traditional powers.
The IIHF World Championship serves as a key evaluation platform for NHL teams assessing goaltending depth during the postseason. For the Blue Jackets, having both their primary and backup goaltenders competing at the highest international level provides valuable data on their development and readiness for the 2026-27 season.
As of the latest verified reports, Merzļikins remains under contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets through the 2025-26 NHL season. His recovery timeline and availability for Latvia’s upcoming international commitments have not been officially disclosed by either the player or the team.
Grīvs’ selection to Canada’s roster highlights the increasingly global nature of hockey talent development, with Latvian-trained players contributing to multiple national programs. His participation offers a unique storyline as he faces former teammates and opponents from his NHL club during the tournament.
The confirmed start date for the 2026 IIHF World Championship is May 15, with the gold medal game scheduled for May 31. All matches will be played in the Swiss cities of Zürich and Fribourg, with specific venue assignments to be announced closer to the tournament.
For continued updates on Grīvs’ performance at the World Championship and Merzļikins’ recovery status, fans can follow official channels from the IIHF, Hockey Canada, and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
