Saint John Sea Dogs captain Eriks Mateiko scored twice to help Latvia secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the IIHF World Junior Championship.
The Latvians trailed 2-0 in the second period until Mateiko got them on the board with his second goal of the tournament.
Mateiko netted two goals – including the overtime winner – in Latvia's 4-3 win over Germany on Monday at the Canadian Tire Centre. Latvia needed just a single point to secure a spot in the quarters, which take place Thursday. This is the first time Latvia has won two games at a world junior.
The Latvians trailed 2-0 in the second period until Mateiko got them on the board with his second goal of the tournament.
🚨Eriks Mateiko gets Latvia back within one! 🙌#GERLAT #WorldJuniors #IIHF @lhf_lv pic.twitter.com/XXU1CDRfFV
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) December 30, 2024
Latvia only needed to take the game to overtime to secure a spot in the quarters and send Germany to the relegation game. 3:23 into the extra frame, Mateiko netted the winner for good measure.
LATVIA WINS IT IN OVERTIME 🇱🇻
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2024
Who else but Eriks Mateiko, the OT hero! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/UnukGxpWaz
Mateiko played 19:09, finishing with four shots and a +2 rating.
Latvia will play their final game of the preliminary round on Tuesday against Finland at 3:30 p.m. Atlantic. They could still inch their way up the Pool A standings depending on other results.
Former Sea Dogs forward Pavel Simek and Czechia are also in action on Tuesday, facing Sweden at 6 p.m. Atlantic.
At the Spengler Cup on Monday, Gerard Gallant, Mike Kelly and Team Canada fell 4-2 to the Straubing Tigers in semifinal play. The Tigers will face HC Fribourg-Gottéron in Tuesday's final.
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