Canada vs. Latvia final score, results: Macklin Celebrini shines as Canadians cruise to World Juniors win

Bryan Murphy

•
Canada vs. Latvia final score, results: Macklin Celebrini shines as Canadians cruise to World Juniors win image

It was going to be a tall task for Latvia to pull off the upset against Canada. The defending champions made sure it wasn't close.

Macklin Celebrini, the potential No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, put together a five-point effort as Canada cruised to a 10-0 win over Latvia, picking up its second win at 2024 World Juniors. Carson Rehkopf and Conor Geekie each scored twice for Canada, while Denton Mateychuk, Matthew Wood, Fraser Minten, Ty Nelson and Brayden Yager all contributed multi-point efforts.

Canada was in control from start to finish, potting two goals in the first and three in the second before exploding for five more in the third period. Mathis Rousseau was perfect in net, turning aside all 22 saves he faced to pick up his second win.

Both Canada and Latvia are off on Thursday before picking up action on Friday. Latvia has a date with Finland, while Canada faces Sweden in a pivotal Group A matchup that could very well determine the No. 1 seed in the group.

BET NOW:2024 World Juniors odds at Sports Interaction

The Sporting News provided all the updates and highlights from the Canada vs. Latvia group play game at the 2024 World Juniors.

Canada vs. Latvia final score

  1 2 3 OT F
Canada 2 3 5 - 10
Latvia 0 0 0 - 0

Canada vs. Latvia results, highlights from 2024 World Juniors

(All times Eastern)

Final: Canada 10, Latvia 0

4:15 p.m. — Canada leaves no doubt, cruising to a 10-0 win over Latvia to pick up its second win in as many games at the 2024 World Juniors. 

Canada 10, Latvia 0

3:57 p.m. — GOAL! It's double digits for Canada as Poitras cleans up a rebound in the slot. Yager had worked his way through multiple Latvia defenders and rang the post, but the Bruins forward put home the loose biscuit. 

3:55 p.m. — The game gets back to even strength as Poitras exits the box with just under 10 minutes left in regulation. 

3:52 p.m. — Latvia heads to a power play as Poitras is called for interference. 

Canada 9, Latvia 0

3:47 p.m. — GOAL! Canada can't stop scoring. Celebrini sends a saucer pass across the ice to Rehkopf who beats Ozols five-hole for his second of the game. Canada has potted four goals in a span of 4:04. Latvia takes its timeout with 13:42 left. 

Canada 8, Latvia 0

3:46 p.m. — GOAL! Geekie picks up the puck on a broken play and uses his quick hands to go backhand-forehand for his second goal of the night. 

Canada 7, Latvia 0

3:42 p.m. — GOAL! Wood gets on the board by powering to the net and squeaking one through Feldbergs for his first of the tournament, and third point of the contest. Feldbergs comes out, and Aksels Ozols takes over the crease for Latvia with 16:09 left. 

Canada 6, Latvia 0

3:39 p.m. — GOAL! Fraser Minten collects the puck at the top of the circle and shoots through a Latvian defender to beat Feldbergs on the blocker side. The tally makes it 6-0 Canada just 2:14 into the third. 

3:37 p.m. — The final 20 minutes between Canada and Latvia are a go. 

End of the second period: Canada 5, Latvia 0

3:18 p.m. — Canada takes a commanding 5-0 lead into the final frame. After dominating the first 15 or so minutes, it was a sloppy end the period for Canada, with Latvia pushing the pace and generating quite a few chances. However, Rousseau has kept the shutout alive. 

3:10 p.m. — Latvia finally puts together a few chances on the 4 on 4 and the abbreviated power play, but Rousseau turns them away. First it was Vilmanis working his way to the crease and trying a backhand that was stopped by the Canadian netminder. Then a shot from the point was blocked, leaving the puck lose outside the crease but Canada cleared it away. 

3:07 p.m. — Allard plays the puck with his hand off a faceoff, and you can't do that in the IIHF. He gets two minutes for delay of game, and it'll be 4 on 4 for 1:48. 

3:06 p.m. — Borozinskis sends the puck out of play and he'll sit for delay of game. Another power play upcoming for Canada. 

Canada 5, Latvia 0

3:01 p.m. — GOAL! Celebrini continues to shine at these World Juniors. Wood sends a stretch pass to the 2024 draft prospect at the far blue line, and he backhands it by Feldbergs on the breakaway. Celebrini is up to four points in the game and there's still 9:04 left in the second. 

Canada 4, Latvia 0

2:50 p.m. — GOAL! Carson Rehkopf finishes off a sensational individual effort to make it 4-0. He powers his way to net and tucks the puck around the outstretched pad of Feldbergs with 15:14 left in the frame. 

2:47 p.m. — Canada can't take advantage of the Locmelis penalty and it's back to even strength. 

2:44 p.m. — After review, Locmelis gets two minutes for cross-checking. Canada heads back to the power play for the fourth time after capitalizing twice already. 

2:41 p.m. — Right after the Allard PP goal, Canada is going back to the power play. Ingus Locmelis gets his stick high on Noah Warren, and the officials are going to review the play. 

Canada 3, Latvia 0

2:41 p.m. — GOAL! The power play comes through again for Canada as Allard tips a one-time shot from Matthew Wood to make it a three-goal game just 1:17 into the middle frame. That's Allard's second goal of the tournament after scoring in the opener. 

2:39 p.m. — Borozinskis comes out of the box, but Canada still has 52 seconds of a PP. Geekie was wide open on the back door for an easy tap-in, but he deflected the puck into the pads of Feldbergs. 

2:38 p.m. — The second is underway. Canada begins with 47 seconds of a 5 on 3 PP. 

End of the first period: Canada 2, Latvia 0

2:20 p.m. — Canada is in complete control after 20 minutes, up two heading into the intermission. The defending champs outshot Latvia 15-5 in the frame, but it certainly could have been more. Canada will have 47 seconds of 5 on 3 to start the second. 

2:19 p.m. — It's another Latvia penalty with 18 seconds left in the period. Peteris Bulans will sit for two after tripping Owen Allard. Canada will have 1:05 of a two-man advantage. 

2:17 p.m. — Canada gets its second power play of the period as Davis Borozinskis is called for hooking with 1:13 left. 

2:15 p.m. — It feels like Canada is just playing keep away at this point. The team is getting tons of sustained offensive zone time, but don't seem to be in a rush to shoot, instead electing to make extra passes. 

2:10 p.m. — Canada kills off the Yager penalty. Latvia put one shot on Rousseau, but did not generate any great chances. 

2:07 p.m. — Latvia gets its first power play of the game with 7:26 remaining in the period as Yager is whistled for tripping.  

Canada 2, Latvia 0

1:58 p.m. — GOAL! Brayden Yager extends Canada's lead with a wrist shot by the glove of Feldbergs. Macklin Celebrini makes a great play in the neutral zone to cause a turnover, he accelerates into the Latvia zone and drops it off for the Penguins prospect, who rips it for his first of the tournament. Canada builds a 2-0 lead with 12:49 left in the first. 

1:53 p.m. — After a lengthy review, the call is overturned and no penalty is given to Nelson. You rarely ever see the penalty completely wiped away, but Canada gets a break. 

1:49 p.m. — Ty Nelson clips Sandis Vilmanis with his hip, and the official's hand goes up. The referees are going to review the play after calling a five-minute major on the ice. That's a weak call if the major stands. 

Canada 1, Latvia 0

1:46 p.m. — GOAL! Right off the ensuing faceoff, Conor Geekie snaps a shot over the right shoulder of Feldbergs, and Canada is on the board. The Canadians needed just five seconds to find the back of the net on the power play, as the Latvia PK continues to struggle. It's 1-0 Canada 5:19 into the game. 

1:46 p.m. — Eriks Mateiko finishes a check on Owen Beck, but the officials deem it boarding. Canada gets a power play just over five minutes into the contest. 

1:38 p.m. — Puck is down and Canada vs. Latvia is underway!

Pregame

1:20 p.m. — With Sweden not in action today, Canada has a chance to sit alone atop the Group A standings by the end of the day. 

1 p.m. — One thing to watch is the Canadian power play. Latvia struggled immensely on the PK against Sweden, allowing three PP goals. Canada had one power play against Finland, but it was Maveric Lamoureux's empty-net goal with six seconds remaining. 

12:30 p.m. — Here is a look at the lineups for the Canada vs. Latvia game. Mathis Rousseau gets the net again for Canada, while Linards Feldbergs gets his first start of the tournament for Latvia. 

12:15 p.m. — The Canadian boys have arrived for the matchup against the Latvians. 

11:45 a.m. — Canada has historically handled Latvia with ease at the World Juniors. The first two matchups between the nations were 16-1 victories for Canada in both circumstances. However, Latvia gave Canada a lot more trouble than expected in the 2022 opener, with the Canadians prevailing 5-2. 

What channel is Canada vs. Latvia on today?

  • TV channels: TSN (Canada) | NHL Network (United States)
  • Live stream: TSN app (Canada) | Fubo (United States)

Canada vs. Latvia will air on TSN in Canada and NHL Network in the U.S.

Viewers can also stream the game on the TSN app in Canada and Fubo in the U.S.

STREAM:Watch 2024 World Juniors with Fubo (free trial)

Canada vs. Latvia start time

  • Date: Wednesday, Dec. 26
  • Time: 1:30 p.m. ET | 10:30 a.m. PT

Canada vs. Latvia will start at 1:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 26. 

The Canadians are 1-0-0-0 at the tournament, coming off a win over Finland in the opener. Latvia is 0-0-0-1, having dropped its first game against Sweden. 

World Juniors odds 2024

Here are the pre-tournament odds for the top 10 teams (via Sports Interaction):

Team Odds
USA +200
Canada +250
Sweden +275
Finland +550
Czechia +1500
Slovakia +5000
Switzerland +6600
Germany +10000
Latvia +30000
Norway +50000

GET IN ON THE ACTION

• Sign Up Bonus
• Vast selection of Global Sports Leagues
• Quick withdrawals

PLAY NOW

World Juniors schedule 2024

Wednesday, Dec. 27

Matchup Time (ET) TV
Slovakia vs. Switzerland  6 a.m. TSN/NHL Network
Finland vs. Germany 8:30 a.m. TSN/NHL Network
Norway vs. Czechia 11 a.m. TSN/NHL Network
Latvia vs. Canada 1:30 p.m. TSN/NHL Network

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.