Action from last year's IIHF U18 Men's World Championship game between Latvia and Norway.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION
It’s a big day for Latvia and Norway as they go head-to-head in a game that will likely determine which nation advances to the quarter-finals at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship.
The two nations have met in each of the past three tournaments – and it’s always been tight. In 2023, Latvia claimed a 1-0 win. In 2025, it was a shoot-out. In between, Norway got the head-to-head verdict but finished at the foot of a three-way tie involving Slovakia. But each time has seen Latvia go to the quarter-final.
That’s one source of belief for the class of 2026. “[Past results] give us a lot of confidence but each year it’s a different team,” said forward Olivers Murnieks. “You can’t expect anything from previous games. It’s best to keep emotions under control and try our best to win.”
In its first two games, Latvia failed to score on Canada or Finland. But defensively the team has been impressive, especially when holding the Finns to a 0-2 scoreline on Friday.
“We just need to stick to that defensive structure,” Murnieks added. “We’re played against very good teams in the first two games. But we still created a couple of chances that we needed to score. I think if we get more chances we’re going to get our goals.”
Norway has managed to find the net, with two goals in its three games so far. But defensively things have been tough – 20 goals allowed in three games is by far the leakiest back line in the tournament.
For Sondre Berg, there was frustration with some of the goals Canada got in Saturday’s 8-0 blow-out.
“We’ll look at some clips from that game and fix some of those easy goals that went in,” he said. “We need to be mentally prepared for a big game [against Latvia].”
However, after taking Latvia to a shoot-out last season and beating them 5-3 in 2024, Norway knows it can compete here. Captain Casper Kjolmoen vowed: “I think this season we are ready to take them.
“I think we have a strong enough team to get to the quarter-final this season, at least.”
Making it through the group would be a big step forward. Since winning promotion in 2022, Norway has survived three relegation playoffs. But the same timespan has seen the country’s first-ever NHL draft first-round picks: Michael Brandsegg-Nygaard and Stian Solberg in 2024.
This year’s group features Niklas Aaram Olsen, another highly-rated draft prospect. He helped Norway’s junior to promotion from Division IA in December, leading the team with 10 (6+4) points in Slovenia. It’s his third and final year at the U18 worlds, and his offensive flair could be the key for his country.
But Latvia believes it is improving day-by-day in this tournament and captain Davids Tarvids regards a quarter-final spot as a minimum requirement.
“When we started two weeks ago, we had a good group of individuals,” Tarvids said. “Now we are getting more like a team. Everyone is fighting until the end to help each other.”
Any kind of victory for Latvia would secure a place in the quarter-finals. If Norway wins in regulation, it would advance. However, if Norway won in overtime or a shoot-out, the Latvians would have a chance of progressing if they could beat host nation Slovakia in the final group game on Monday.
The two nations have met in each of the past three tournaments – and it’s always been tight. In 2023, Latvia claimed a 1-0 win. In 2025, it was a shoot-out. In between, Norway got the head-to-head verdict but finished at the foot of a three-way tie involving Slovakia. But each time has seen Latvia go to the quarter-final.
That’s one source of belief for the class of 2026. “[Past results] give us a lot of confidence but each year it’s a different team,” said forward Olivers Murnieks. “You can’t expect anything from previous games. It’s best to keep emotions under control and try our best to win.”
In its first two games, Latvia failed to score on Canada or Finland. But defensively the team has been impressive, especially when holding the Finns to a 0-2 scoreline on Friday.
“We just need to stick to that defensive structure,” Murnieks added. “We’re played against very good teams in the first two games. But we still created a couple of chances that we needed to score. I think if we get more chances we’re going to get our goals.”
Norway has managed to find the net, with two goals in its three games so far. But defensively things have been tough – 20 goals allowed in three games is by far the leakiest back line in the tournament.
For Sondre Berg, there was frustration with some of the goals Canada got in Saturday’s 8-0 blow-out.
“We’ll look at some clips from that game and fix some of those easy goals that went in,” he said. “We need to be mentally prepared for a big game [against Latvia].”
However, after taking Latvia to a shoot-out last season and beating them 5-3 in 2024, Norway knows it can compete here. Captain Casper Kjolmoen vowed: “I think this season we are ready to take them.
“I think we have a strong enough team to get to the quarter-final this season, at least.”
Making it through the group would be a big step forward. Since winning promotion in 2022, Norway has survived three relegation playoffs. But the same timespan has seen the country’s first-ever NHL draft first-round picks: Michael Brandsegg-Nygaard and Stian Solberg in 2024.
This year’s group features Niklas Aaram Olsen, another highly-rated draft prospect. He helped Norway’s junior to promotion from Division IA in December, leading the team with 10 (6+4) points in Slovenia. It’s his third and final year at the U18 worlds, and his offensive flair could be the key for his country.
But Latvia believes it is improving day-by-day in this tournament and captain Davids Tarvids regards a quarter-final spot as a minimum requirement.
“When we started two weeks ago, we had a good group of individuals,” Tarvids said. “Now we are getting more like a team. Everyone is fighting until the end to help each other.”
Any kind of victory for Latvia would secure a place in the quarter-finals. If Norway wins in regulation, it would advance. However, if Norway won in overtime or a shoot-out, the Latvians would have a chance of progressing if they could beat host nation Slovakia in the final group game on Monday.