The 31-year old from Riga, LAT gets a second shot. He last participated in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
Latvia has named their first six players who have made their preliminary roster for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games and so far it’s a lineup that is no stranger to the Olympics, including Lightning forward, Zemgus Girgensons.
For the second time in his career, Girgensons will be returning to the Olympic Games. He represented Latvia in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics where they placed 11th. That year he scored one goal, had one assist and earned two points in five games for Latvia. He also represented his country in the 2017 World Championships. He has not played internationally since.
In 2024-2025, his first season with the Lightning, the 31-year old center, Girgensons, the 2014-15 NHL All-Star scored two goals, had four assists, and earned six points in 82 games. He averaged 11:40 on ice per game.
Over the course of his career, he has a total of 91 goals and 103 assists in 770 games.
Joining Girgensons on the Latvia roster in 2026 is Philadelphia Flyers center, Rodrigo Abols; 28-year old defenseman from the 2025 Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, Uvis Balinskis; Vancouver Canucks center, Teddy Blueger; Columbus Blue Jackets goalie, Elvis Merzlikins; and Vancouver Canucks goalie, 24-year old Arturs Silovs.
29 year old Abols represented Latvia in the 2022 Bejing Olympics and has competed in the IIHF World Championships eight times. He played for his country in six straight World Championships from 2018-2024.
In the 2024-25 season for Philadelphia, Abols had two goals, three assists, and earned five points in 22 games played. He averaged 9:11 on the ice per game in his first season with Philadelphia.
28-year old Balinskis played for Latvia at the 2022 Bejing Olympics as well. He had three assists in four Olympic games. He also represented Latvia at the World Championships five times. In 2023 he was credited with two assists in 10 games played.
In 2024-25 with the Panthers, he scored a career-high four goals, had 14 assists, earned 18 points and was on the ice an average 14:51 per game.
Most recently in the Stanely Cup Playoffs he scored one goal and earned one point in five games played. He had a +4 in his first playoff appearance and walked away with a Stanley Cup championship.
Blueger is one of two from the first six who will be making his first Olympic appearance. He has competed internationally at the World Championships three times. In 19 games he had three goals and five assists.
Blueger spent the first five seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, then spent one season with the Vegas Golden Knights, and has been with the Canucks the last two seaons.
In 2024-25 with the Canucks, he scored eight goals, had 18 assists, 26 points, and was -7 through 82 games on the ice. He averaged 14:19 of playing time last season.
Merzlikins is another Olympic veteran. He played for Latvia in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. He was 4-2 in 2018 with a 1.49 GAA and .940 save percentage.
Along with his Olympic appearance, he has represented Latvia in the World Championships six times.
Last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he was 26-21 with a 3.18 GAA and a.892 save percentage. He had one assists and was on the ice for one shutout game in 2024-25.
Silovs joins teammate Blueger from the Canucks in representing Latvia together in the 2026 Olympics. This will be the Ventspils, Silovs native’s first Olympic appearance. He has competed internationally, however. He represented Latvia in the World Championships in 2022 and 2023.
Last season in 10 games played, he was 2-6. He had a 3.65 GAA and a .861 save percentage.
For Latvia, four of their first six come with Olympic experience and two will be getting their first taste of Olympic Action.
For Girgensons, he will look to lead Latvia to more than an 11th place finish in next year’s Olympic Games.
