Latvia staged a dramatic comeback victory in men’s ice hockey at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday, defeating Germany 4–3 at Rho Arena to earn its first Olympic win in the sport since 2014.
Goaltender Arturs Silovs was the backbone of the performance, stopping 26 shots, while Dans Locmelis scored twice to spark Latvia’s turnaround after the team dropped its Olympic opener 5–1 to the United States earlier in the week.
Germany struck quickly to open the game. Lukas Reichel scored on a breakaway just 2:06 into the first period, beating Silovs over the blocker on Germany’s second shot on goal. Latvia answered late in the period when Locmelis converted a power-play opportunity at 15:48, finishing a precise pass from Zemgus Girgensons at the right post to tie the game 1–1.
Germany regained the lead only moments later. Frederik Tiffels intercepted a pass from Kaspars Daugavins and fed Lukas Kalble in the left face-off circle, where he fired a wrist shot past Silovs at 16:56 to make it 2–1 heading into the intermission.
Latvia pulled even again in the second period. During a two-man advantage, Locmelis scored his second goal of the game at 8:02 with a sharp shot from low in the right circle to tie the contest 2–2. Germany nearly reclaimed the lead shortly after when Leon Draisaitl broke in alone, but Silovs delivered a crucial pad save to keep the game level. Draisaitl finished with a game-high 10 shots on goal.
The momentum shifted fully in Latvia’s favor in the third period. Eduards Tralmaks scored on a breakaway at 8:32, going blocker-side after receiving a pass from Girgensons to give Latvia its first lead of the game. Renars Krastenbergs extended the advantage to 4–2 at 11:37, burying a rebound from the slot following a shot sequence involving Daugavins.
Germany mounted a late push with goaltender Philipp Grubauer pulled for an extra attacker. Tim Stutzle cut the deficit to 4–3 at 17:41 when his shot deflected into the net off Latvia defenseman Kristaps Zile. Despite the pressure in the closing minutes, Silovs and Latvia’s defense held firm to secure the victory.
Girgensons finished with two assists, while Krastenbergs added a goal and an assist for Latvia, which improved to 1-0-1-0 in Group C play. Kalble recorded a goal and an assist for Germany, and Grubauer made 18 saves.
The victory marked Latvia’s first Olympic men’s hockey win since defeating Switzerland 3–1 in a qualification playoff at the Sochi Games on Feb. 18, 2014.
Latvia will conclude preliminary-round play against Denmark on Sunday, while Germany is set to face the United States later that day.
