BEMIDJI — Coming into this year’s IIHF World Junior Championship, Latvian goaltender Mikus Vecvanags has every reason to feel nervous.
He’s replacing standout goaltender Linards Feldbergs, who led Latvia on a surprise run in last year’s tournament and was between the pipes when Latvia shocked the hockey world, beating host Canada in a shootout 3-2. They went on to defeat Germany 4-3 in overtime and drove Sweden to the brink in the medal round, losing 3-2.
Feldbergs was third in the tournament with a .929 save percentage and stopped the second-most shots.
It’s safe to say Vecvanags has some big shoes to fill. And to top it off, Latvia started its pre-tournament exhibitions against Czechia, last year’s bronze medal winners.
Knowing it’ll take more elite goaltending for Latvia to match its efforts from last year’s tournament, Vecvanags gave a very Jordan Binnington-like answer.
“I don’t feel pressure,” he said. “I just go out there, try to stay in the moment and try to have fun. I’m being myself.”
If Friday night’s exhibition is any indicator, it doesn’t seem like he plays with any pressure, either.
TJ Rhodes / Bemidji Pioneer
The Montreal Canadiens prospect was all over the crease against Czechia, the first of three pre-tournament exhibitions at the Sanford Center. He stopped 27 shots in regulation before giving up the game-winning goal in overtime, as the Czechs walked away with a 3-2 exhibition win.
It wasn’t the result Latvia wanted, but Vecvanags was happy about his team’s performance in front of him — especially in the third period. He faced 25 shots through the first two periods before Latvia’s defense tightened up, allowing only four shots in the final frame.
“I thought the boys in front of me played awesome,” he said. “The third period, especially, not much work I had to do. And the shots I had were from the outside, simple shots. Huge thanks to the boys.”
Vecvanags kept Latvia in the game through the first two periods. He made spectacular-looking saves on grade-A shots until Czechia broke through with a 2-on-1 goal from Matěj Kubiesa in the beginning of the second period.
When Czechia went on the power play shortly after, its crisp passing forced Vecvanags to jump all over his crease. The Czechs thought they had him dead to rights after a cross-ice pass left an open net. Desperate, Vecvanags made his best save of the night, diving across his crease and just getting a piece of a puck that was sure to go in.
“Obviously, (that one) in the second period was pretty nice,” he said. “I think it (hit) the end of my stick.”
Czechia broke through again in the middle of the second period, as Tomáš Poletín snuck one past his blocker to make it 2-0.
Vecvanags had to recover quickly. About 15 seconds after the goal, he stopped an Adam Titlbach breakaway with his left pad, one of many highlight-reel saves to help Latvia stay in the game.
His play helped mount a comeback, with Alberts Šmits scoring in the second and Bruno Osmanis scoring in the third to tie it 2-2. Czechia’s Maximilian Curran scored the game-winner in OT
The teams will rematch in group play Dec. 31 at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
An underdog with a track record
Center Olivers Mūrnieks was on last year’s team that beat Canada, shocking all the Canadian fans in attendance at Ottawa.
Mūrnieks and the rest of the Latvians experienced simultaneous shock and excitement after teammate Eriks Mateiko scored the game-winner in the eighth round of the shootout.
“I couldn’t believe that we beat them,” Mūrnieks recalled. “When Mateiko scored, I didn’t even see the puck; I just saw him celebrate. Just pure happiness; everybody was screaming.”
TJ Rhodes / Bemidji Pioneer
The shocking victory put Latvian hockey on the map and has given confidence to this year’s team that it can compete with the big teams in the tournament.
“We just felt today that we almost can beat the Czechs. They have a pretty good roster this year,” Mūrnieks said. “I think if we play to our structure and keep things simple and not give them anything, we can play with everybody.”
“Seeing what they did last year gives you a huge confidence boost that it can be done and we can play these bigger nations,” Vecvanags said.
Even then, teams like Canada and Finland will still enter the tournament as favorites over teams like Latvia. But if the pieces fall in the right place, Latvia can be another underdog story again.
“In one hockey game, anything can happen,” head coach Artis Ābols said. “But at the same time, OK, we beat Canada. But the situation is the same like it was a year ago. They are the tournament favorite. We are not the biggest favorite in that tournament, especially in a game against Canada.
“But once again, that one hockey game, anything can happen.”
If Latvia pulls off another upset, they’ll rely on Vecvanags. A 2024 fifth-round pick by the Montreal Canadiens, he’s one of two NHL draftees playing for Latvia.
“It’s every hockey player’s dream, right?” Vecvanags said. “And a franchise like Montreal, I really believe it’s the best franchise in the world. It’s been incredible going to camps and enjoying that environment and just taking everything in and learning so much.”
His dream is to one day play in the NHL, like other Latvian goaltenders Artūrs Šilovs and Elvis Merzļikins. But before he gets to the highest level, he knows full well that he needs time to develop. He currently plays for the Newfoundland Regiment in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League in St.John’s.
TJ Rhodes / Bemidji Pioneer
“The city had AHL, ECHL franchises before, so the facilities are top-notch,” Vecvanags said. “And it’s been great so far because all the teams have to bus the whole day before the games, and we get to just fly in and stay the night and play the next night.”
Vecvanags faces some of the toughest competition Canada has to offer. But soon, he will head to the States to play NCAA hockey. He’s committed to Maine, a school that has produced star goalies like Jeremy Swayman.
Vecvanags did not say when he will enroll at the Hockey East school, but its track record and coaching staff attracted him to become a Black Bear.
“Talking with coaching staff and seeing how committed they are and how they push their players to be their best … it was an easy decision for me,” Vecvanags said.
Full tournament coverage
Click on the image above to read comprehensive coverage of the 2026 World Junior Championship tournament.
Click on image to read comprehensive coverage of the 2026 World Junior Championship tournament.