Latvia Stuns Canada with 3-2 Shootout Win at World Junior Hockey Championship

The underdog Latvians secured one of the tournament's biggest upsets, overcoming a heavily favored Canadian team in Ottawa.

Latvia defeated Canada 3-2 in a shootout during the preliminary round of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, marking one of the most significant upsets in tournament history.
Eriks Mateiko scored the decisive shootout goal, adding to his earlier third-period tally, while Linards Feldbergs made an impressive 55 saves during regulation and overtime.
Canada struggled offensively, going 0-for-6 on power plays, and suffered from a disjointed performance despite fielding a roster with 11 first-round NHL picks.
An injury to 17-year-old star defenseman Matthew Schaefer further hindered the Canadian team, which is seeking to rebound from last year’s disappointing fifth-place finish.
Latvia's victory is only their third in 38 all-time World Junior Championship games, as they prepare to face the United States next, while Canada will look to regroup against Germany on Sunday.