BEMIDJI — No matter how you slice it, Alberts Šmits is a revered 2026 NHL Draft prospect.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Latvian defenseman is a projected first-round pick this summer. Šmits is ranked as high as eighth in McKeen’s Hockey prospect board and as low as 19th by Consolodated Ranking, both well within Day 1 pick territory.
On Saturday, Dec. 27, Šmits will suit up for his first 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship game when Latvia takes on Canada at 3M at Mariucci in Minneapolis. And while more evaluating eyes will be on Šmits than ever, he’s unfazed by the attention that comes his way.
“Of course I’m excited about the tournament, but I look at this like it’s my job to come here and play hockey,” Šmits said. “I’ve been playing a couple of games with the international team. … I’m here to do my job.”
Šmits, who turned 18 on Dec. 2, has primarily played in Finland since 2022. He progressed through the U16, U18 and U20 levels to play his first Liiga game last season, the top Finnish league. In nine games for Jukurit, he tallied a goal and an assist.
Šmits has played the majority of his 2025-26 season with Jukurit’s Liiga club. He has six goals and 12 points in 29 games, most of them coming when he was 17 years old.
“I’ve dealt with pressure in basically every game I’ve played in Finland,” Šmits said. “That league over there, there’s a lot of people watching. You have to get used to that pressure. To be honest, I don’t feel much pressure.”
Šmits’ confidence was apparent when Latvia conducted its pre-tournament camp at the Sanford Center in Bemidji.
Annalise Braught / Bemidji Pioneer
He scored a power-play goal in
Latvia’s first exhibition game against Czechia
last Friday. Šmits took nine shot attempts in that period alone, aided by two power plays. He later assisted on Latvia’s power-play goal in a
pre-tournament loss against Slovakia
on Sunday.
“There are a lot of tactical things you have to change,” Šmits said of transitioning from pro to under-20 hockey. “The biggest difference is that in Finland, I’m playing against men. Over here, I’m playing against younger guys, against juniors. It gives me a little bit of an advantage, but I’m not playing alone. We have five guys on the ice and we have to figure out how to work as a team.”
Latvia coach Artis Abols named Šmits an alternate captain for his first under-20 world tournament. Šmits had a goal and three points in the under-18 tournament for Latvia a year ago.
“This was the first week I’ve worked with him. I didn’t know him that good personally,” Abols said. “Last year, he didn’t play World Juniors. He’s not new in the group — they know each other — but they’re becoming more and more close. We need him off ice and on ice.”
Latvia has never medled in WJC history. It’s never advanced past the quarterfinals in the medal rounds. Šmits wants to be part of the first group, and he also wants to be a factor in doing so.
“It means a lot, especially if I get a lot of playing time,” Šmits said. “Of course, it’s an honor for me; it’s an honor for everyone else on the team as well. It would mean a lot (to medal) — we have never won one. It would be a big thing for us.”
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.
