MILAN -- Elvis Merzlikins is here for the chance to prove to the hockey world that Team Latvia's talent, skill and its underdog moxie is ready to match the size of the heart of the smallest of the 12 nations competing the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

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?

NHL players are returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2014. Here are the rosters and schedule, plus how to watch:

Seven members of the Canucks organization will represent their respective countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The NHL players compete in the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014, as the 2026 Men's Hockey Tournament is scheduled to start on February 11 in Milan. There will be 12 teams competing in the group stage,

There are 12 men's hockey teams that will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, but not all enter with the same chances of winning gold.

The on-ice leaders for one of the intriguing underdogs heading into the men’s ice hockey tournament in Milan have been named. On Tuesday, it was announced that former NHL forward Kaspars Daugavins has been named the captain of the Latvian men’s team at the 2026 Winter Olympics.