Latvia’s U-18 hockey team suffered a 6-0 defeat to Finland in their second game at the IIHF U18 World Championship in Trenčín, Slovakia, on April 24, 2026.
The loss followed a heavy 6-0 opening-day loss to Canada, leaving Latvia winless through their first two matches in the tournament.
Goaltender Iļja Ņikitins faced 48 shots against Finland, making 42 saves for an 87.5% save percentage. Despite his efforts, Latvia struggled offensively, failing to score while conceding six goals.
Team captain Davids Tarvids, along with Edvards Laganovskis and Ričards Rutkis, finished the game with a minus-3 rating. Latvia managed just five shots on goal, all coming in the same lineup.
Finland, a four-time U18 World Championship champion (1999, 2000, 2016, 2018), dominated possession and outshot Latvia significantly. Luka Santala led the Finns with three goals and an assist, while Pāvo Fuglebergs recorded four points.
Latvia and Finland have met ten times in U18 World Championship history, with Finland holding the advantage in regulation-time victories. Their most recent encounters saw Latvia lose 1-3 in 2024 and suffer a 2-10 defeat in 2025.
The team next faces Norway in their upcoming match, looking to avoid a third consecutive loss in the preliminary round.
