The most prominent Latvia-born players to reach the NHL are defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh, who helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 1996 and played 875 games in 15 NHL seasons, and goalie Arturs Irbe, who had 218 wins and 33 shutouts in 13 seasons.

Which countries are performing the best at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Team USA arrives in Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics with a formidable defensive unit, aiming for gold after a strong showing at the 4 Nations Face-Off and a World Championship victory. Key defensemen like Quinn Hughes and Zach Werenski lead the charge,

In January, Vilmanis, 21, earned a spot on Latvia's Olympic team. Days later, he reached another milestone with his NHL debut for the Panthers. Now he's preparing to showcase Latvia's maroon and white jersey on the world's biggest stage.