Eriks Mateko scored the only goal of the shootout as Latvia stunned Canada 3-2 at the World Junior Hockey Championship on Friday.
The forward scored to register one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history before slotting home his country's eighth try.
Mateko and Pietris Bulans scored in regulation for the hard-working Europeans in their first game of the 10-team exhibition in the nation's capital. Leonard's Feldberg stopped 54 shots in 65 minutes. Bruno Osmanis had two assists.
Calum Ritchie and Jet Luchanko responded to the tournament hosts, who finished a disappointing fifth in Sweden last year. Jack Ivankovic made 24 saves.
Canada, going for its 20th gold medal, entered the event with a 4-0 record and a combined 41-4 scoreboard lead against Latvia, including a 10-0 victory 12 months ago.
Unexpected shooting
After the Latvians tied the game 1-1 in the third period, Ritchie blasted a one-timer off an Easton Cowan feed.
But Canada's Ethan Gauthier was whistled for hooking with just over three minutes remaining and Bulans tied it on the power play with 2:29 left.
Canada took a too-many penalty in 3-on-3 overtime, but avoided that short-handed situation to force a shootout with too many not showing up before the opening faceoff.
Ivankovic is the third 17-year-old goaltender to play in an under-20 tournament for Canada, and the first since Jimmy Waite in 1987. Brian Finley entered the game in 1999 at the age of 17.
The Mississauga, Ont., goaltender replaced Carter George on the tail end of back-to-back starts after making 31 saves in a 4-0 win over Finland in Thursday's opener.
More preparations have been made this year
Hockey Canada's brain trust, led by Peter Anholt, spoke ahead of the tournament about how the group was better prepared this time around after a devastating performance in Gothenburg against powerhouse Czechia in the quarterfinals.
A coaching staff led by Dave Cameron was soon in place, while the program also held a summer camp and hired a full-time scout.
The management team insists all the pieces are in place. There was, in short, no excuse.
Canada, however, had 11 first-round NHL picks and three other players expected to go high in the next two drafts despite not having many answers against one of the sport's minnows on Friday.
An uncharacteristic performance in the opening 20 minutes hurt star defenseman Matthew Schaefer – the 17-year-old potential top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft – after he crashed into the Latvian net on a power play off the rush.
Ivankovic had to be sharp on two penalty kills and another chance to score solo off the stick of Olivier Murnieux. Not much improvement from there.
Unchallenged middle ice
Canada got on the board 3:28 into the middle period when Luchanko stole the puck on the penalty kill and Feldbergs scored on a breakaway after deciding to stay in his crease.
The Canadians, 0-for-3 on the power play against Finland, fell to 0-for-6 in the period after two very lifeless man advantages.
With his team seemingly content to stay out and not challenge the Latvians in the middle of the ice – an unfortunate feature of the country's 2024 iteration – Cameron fired into his players on the bench at the end of the period.
The crowd at the Canadian Tire Center tried to pick up the country's teenagers midway through the third period, but the group continued to look for answers they couldn't find there.
Then Canadian defenseman Andrew Gibson took an elbow penalty to tie Mateko with 6:42 left before Ritchie and Mateko scored late.
Young guns
Cameron said before the game that Canada's trio of 17-year-olds – Gavin McKenna, Ivankovic and Schaffer – did not receive age-related special treatment.
“If we think they need a special service, they probably won't be in the team,” said Cameron, in charge of the world junior bench for the third time. “We don't want any extra distractions like having to coddle the boys through the scenarios. We have enough work to do as it is.
“As young as they are, they are mature.”
Latvia will face the USA on Saturday. Canada will play against Germany on Sunday.
