SafekipediaLatvia men's national ice hockey team
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
The Latvian men's national ice hockey team represents Latvia in international ice hockey competitions. As of 2025, the team is ranked 10th in the world by the IIHF and is managed by the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation. In 2023, the team achieved their best performance ever at the World Championships by winning a bronze medal.
The team also reached the quarterfinals during the 2014 Winter Olympics, where they lost a close match 2–1 against Canada. Latvia has been an important host for international hockey, having organized the World Championships three times.
With around 7,898 registered hockey players, ice hockey is a popular sport in Latvia, making up about 0.43% of the country's population.
Tournament record
Olympic Games
World Championship
European Championship
| Games | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA | Coach | Captain | Finish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 27 | Arvīds Jurgens | Leonīds Vedējs | 13 | |
| 1948–1988 | As part of  Soviet Union | |||||||||
 1992 Albertville | did not qualify | |||||||||
 1994 Lillehammer | ||||||||||
 1998 Nagano | ||||||||||
 2002 Salt Lake City | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 14 | Curt Lindström | Harijs Vītoliņš | 9 | |
 2006 Turin | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 29 | Leonīds Beresņevs | Kārlis Skrastiņš | 12 | |
 2010 Vancouver | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 22 | Oļegs Znaroks | Kārlis Skrastiņš | 12 |
 2014 Sochi | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 14 | Ted Nolan | Sandis Ozoliņš | 8 |
 2018 Pyeongchang | did not qualify | |||||||||
 2022 Beijing | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 14 | Harijs Vītoliņš | Lauris Dārziņš | 11 |
| 2026 Milan / Cortina d'Ampezzo | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 17 | Harijs Vītoliņš | Kaspars Daugaviņš | 10 |
| Games | GP | W | T | L | GF | GA | Coach | Captain | Finish | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1932 Berlin | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 13 | Nikolajs Kavass | Arvīds Jurgens | Consolation Round | 8th |
Team
Current roster
Roster for the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
Head coach: Harijs Vītoliņš
2026 Olympics roster
The first six players of Latvia's roster were announced on 16 June 2025. The remaining players were named on 6 January 2026. On 12 January, forward Eriks Mateiko could not play because of an injury during a Hershey Bears game; he was replaced by Anrī Ravinskis. On 18 January, forward Rodrigo Ābols could not play after an injury and was replaced by Rihards Bukarts. On 10 February, Kaspars Daugaviņš was named Latvia's captain, with Uvis Balinskis and Zemgus Girgensons as alternate captains.
Head coach: Harijs Vītoliņš
Retired numbers
- 1 – Artūrs Irbe
- 7 – Kārlis Skrastiņš
- 19 – Helmuts Balderis
- 33 – Sergejs Žoltoks
Coaching history
| No. | Pos. | Name | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | D | Alberts Šmits | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 93 kg (205 lb) | (2007-12-02) 2 December 2007 |  Mikkelin Jukurit |
| 4 | D | Kristofers Bindulis | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | (1995-09-18) 18 September 1995 |  HK Dukla Michalovce |
| 5 | D | Artūrs Andžāns | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | (2001-08-21) 21 August 2001 | HPK |
| 12 | F | Gļebs Prohorenkovs | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | (2001-11-12) 12 November 2001 | Niagara Purple Eagles |
| 14 | F | Olivers Mūrnieks | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | (2008-07-31) 31 July 2008 | Saint John Sea Dogs |
| 17 | F | Mārtiņš Dzierkals | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | (1997-04-04) 4 April 1997 |  HC Sparta Praha |
| 21 | F | Rūdolfs Balcers – C | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 79 kg (174 lb) | (1997-04-08) 8 April 1997 |  ZSC Lions |
| 22 | F | Toms Andersons | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | (1993-11-25) 25 November 1993 | HC La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| 23 | F | Sandis Vilmanis | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 87 kg (192 lb) | (2004-01-23) 23 January 2004 | Florida Panthers |
| 27 | D | Oskars Cibuļskis | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 96 kg (212 lb) | (1988-04-09) 9 April 1988 |  Herning Blue Fox |
| 29 | D | Ralfs Freibergs – A | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | (1991-05-17) 17 May 1991 | Mountfield HK |
| 37 | F | Oskars Lapinskis | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | 75 kg (165 lb) | (2002-05-03) 3 May 2002 | SCL Tigers |
| 40 | G | Mareks Mitens | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | (1998-01-29) 29 January 1998 | HC Banská Bystrica |
| 42 | D | Miks Tumānovs | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | 83 kg (183 lb) | (2001-08-07) 7 August 2001 | Jokerit |
| 50 | G | Kristers Gudļevskis | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | 97 kg (214 lb) | (1992-07-31) 31 July 1992 | Fischtown Pinguins |
| 55 | D | Roberts Mamčics | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 105 kg (231 lb) | (1995-04-06) 6 April 1995 | Energie Karlovy Vary |
| 73 | F | Deniss Smirnovs | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | 80 kg (180 lb) | (1999-03-07) 7 March 1999 | EHC Kloten |
| 77 | D | Kristaps Zīle – A | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | (1997-12-24) 24 December 1997 | HC Bílí Tygři Liberec |
| 87 | F | Kristaps Skrastiņš | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | 77 kg (170 lb) | (2001-11-20) 20 November 2001 | New Hampshire Wildcats |
| 88 | G | Gustavs Grigals | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 89 kg (196 lb) | (1998-07-22) 22 July 1998 | SaiPa |
| 89 | F | Filips Buncis | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | 93 kg (205 lb) | (1997-06-12) 12 June 1997 | Rungsted Ishockey Klub |
| 95 | F | Oskars Batņa | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) | 106 kg (234 lb) | (1995-05-07) 7 May 1995 | Lahti Pelicans |
| 97 | F | Haralds Egle | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 95 kg (209 lb) | (1996-05-11) 11 May 1996 | Energie Karlovy Vary |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | D | Alberts Šmits | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 93 kg (205 lb) | (2007-12-02)2 December 2007 (aged 18) | Jukurit |
| 9 | F | Renārs Krastenbergs | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 87 kg (192 lb) | (1998-12-26)26 December 1998 (aged 27) | HC Olomouc |
| 11 | F | Dans Ločmelis | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 81 kg (179 lb) | (2004-01-21)21 January 2004 (aged 22) | Providence Bruins |
| 13 | F | Rihards Bukarts | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | (1995-12-31)31 December 1995 (aged 30) | HC Prešov |
| 16 | F | Kaspars Daugaviņš – C | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 102 kg (225 lb) | (1988-05-18)18 May 1988 (aged 37) | Kassel Huskies |
| 17 | F | Mārtiņš Dzierkals | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 91 kg (201 lb) | (1997-04-04)4 April 1997 (aged 28) | Sparta Praha |
| 21 | F | Rūdolfs Balcers | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 80 kg (176 lb) | (1997-04-08)8 April 1997 (aged 28) | ZSC Lions |
| 22 | F | Sandis Vilmanis | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 88 kg (194 lb) | (2004-01-23)23 January 2004 (aged 22) | Florida Panthers |
| 23 | F | Teodors Bļugers | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | (1994-08-15)15 August 1994 (aged 31) | Vancouver Canucks |
| 26 | D | Uvis Balinskis – A | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 90 kg (198 lb) | (1996-08-01)1 August 1996 (aged 29) | Florida Panthers |
| 27 | D | Oskars Cibuļskis | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 94 kg (207 lb) | (1988-04-09)9 April 1988 (aged 37) | Herning Blue Fox |
| 28 | F | Zemgus Girgensons – A | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | 90 kg (198 lb) | (1994-01-05)5 January 1994 (aged 32) | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 29 | D | Ralfs Freibergs | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 88 kg (194 lb) | (1991-05-17)17 May 1991 (aged 34) | Vítkovice Ridera |
| 30 | G | Elvis Merzļikins | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | 90 kg (198 lb) | (1994-04-13)13 April 1994 (aged 31) | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| 31 | G | Artūrs Šilovs | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 93 kg (205 lb) | (2001-03-22)22 March 2001 (aged 24) | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 34 | F | Eduards Tralmaks | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 100 kg (220 lb) | (1997-02-17)17 February 1997 (aged 28) | Grand Rapids Griffins |
| 43 | F | Anrī Ravinskis | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 94 kg (207 lb) | (2003-01-02)2 January 2003 (aged 23) | Abbotsford Canucks |
| 50 | G | Kristers Gudļevskis | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 97 kg (214 lb) | (1992-07-31)31 July 1992 (aged 33) | Fischtown Pinguins |
| 55 | D | Roberts Mamčics | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | 104 kg (229 lb) | (1995-04-06)6 April 1995 (aged 30) | Energie Karlovy Vary |
| 71 | F | Roberts Bukarts | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | (1990-06-27)27 June 1990 (aged 35) | Dukla Trenčín |
| 72 | D | Jānis Jaks | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | 89 kg (196 lb) | (1995-08-22)22 August 1995 (aged 30) | Energie Karlovy Vary |
| 77 | D | Kristaps Zīle | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | 90 kg (198 lb) | (1997-12-24)24 December 1997 (aged 28) | Bílí Tygři Liberec |
| 94 | D | Kristiāns Rubīns | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | 99 kg (218 lb) | (1997-12-11)11 December 1997 (aged 28) | Škoda Plzeň |
| 95 | F | Oskars Batņa | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 106 kg (234 lb) | (1995-05-07)7 May 1995 (aged 30) | Pelicans |
| 97 | F | Haralds Egle | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | (1996-05-11)11 May 1996 (aged 29) | Energie Karlovy Vary |
| Coach | GP | W | T | L | GD | P-ts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932–1935 |  Nikolajs Kavass | 13 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 19:47 | 9 |
| 1936–1938 | Arvīds Jurgens | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7:35 | 3 |
| 1939 |  Larry Marsh | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6:21 | 3 |
| 1992–1994 | Helmuts Balderis | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 162:18 | 27 |
| 1995 | Ēvalds Grabovskis | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 65:16 | 18 |
| 1996–1999 | Leonīds Beresņevs | 27 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 123:79 | 49 |
| 1999–2001 | Haralds Vasiļjevs | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 34:30 | 20 |
| 2001–2004 |  Curt Lindström | 23 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 57:62 | 27 |
| 2005–2006 | Leonīds Beresņevs | 11 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 21:50 | 8 |
| 2006 | Petr Vorobiev | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12:24 | 7 |
| 2007–2011 | Oleg Znarok | 35 | 16 | – | 19 | 85:123 | 37 |
| 2011–2014 | Ted Nolan | 26 | 11 | – | 15 | 54:82 | 25 |
| 2015 | Aleksandrs Beļavskis | 7 | 2 | – | 5 | 11:25 | 5 |
| 2016 | Leonīds Beresņevs | 7 | 1 | – | 6 | 13:22 | 6 |
| 2016 | Haralds Vasiļjevs | 3 | 2 | – | 1 | 13:5 | 6 |
| 2017–2021 | Bob Hartley | 29 | 12 | – | 17 | 68:73 | 41 |
| 2021–present | Harijs Vītoliņš | 35 | 18 | – | 17 | 98:111 | 48 |
All-time record
As of 8 November 2025.
| Opponent | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Austria | 28 | 23 | 0 | 5 | 106 | 65 | +41 |
 Belarus | 40 | 19 | 3 | 18 | 106 | 97 | +9 |
 Belgium | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 4 | +27 |
| Canada | 24 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 29 | 126 | -97 |
| China | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | +22 |
| Czech Republic | 19 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 34 | 66 | −32 |
| Czechoslovakia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | −16 |
| Denmark | 38 | 24 | 0 | 14 | 131 | 93 | +38 |
 Estonia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 6 | +26 |
| Finland | 36 | 5 | 2 | 29 | 66 | 136 | −70 |
| France | 57 | 37 | 4 | 16 | 195 | 115 | +80 |
| Germany | 42 | 13 | 4 | 25 | 92 | 115 | -23 |
 Great Britain | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 44 | 39 | +5 |
 Hungary | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 12 | +19 |
 Israel | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | +32 |
| Italy | 19 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 71 | 30 | +41 |
| Japan | 13 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 79 | 26 | +53 |
 Kazakhstan | 15 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 54 | 31 | +23 |
 Lithuania | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 2 | +43 |
 Netherlands | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 6 | +39 |
 North Korea | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 |
| Norway | 45 | 27 | 0 | 18 | 144 | 112 | +30 |
 Poland | 21 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 72 | 50 | +22 |
 Romania | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 49 | 7 | +42 |
| Russia | 22 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 38 | 83 | −45 |
| Slovakia | 38 | 12 | 2 | 24 | 80 | 123 | -43 |
 Slovenia | 14 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 49 | 25 | +24 |
| South Korea | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 2 | +36 |
| Sweden | 30 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 50 | 126 | −76 |
| Switzerland | 43 | 10 | 3 | 30 | 78 | 134 | -56 |
 Ukraine | 20 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 67 | 49 | +18 |
| United States | 19 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 38 | 61 | −23 |
 Yugoslavia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | +10 |
| Total | 617 | 295 | 28 | 294 | 1 910 | 1 699 | +211 |
Uniform evolution
The Latvian men's national ice hockey team has had several different uniforms over the years. From 1993 to 2005, they wore one style of jersey for games. Then, from 2006 to 2013, they changed to a new design. In 2014 to 2017, they used another set of jerseys, especially for the Winter Olympics and other international games. From 2018 to 2021, they had yet another style, and starting in 2022, they introduced a new uniform design for the Winter Olympics and other competitions.
Images
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