Finland delivered a dominant performance at the 2026 World Junior Championship, securing an 8-0 victory over Latvia on Sunday. After a win against Denmark in their opening game, Finland continued their strong start in the tournament.

Emil Hemming stood out, scoring twice for Finland in the match. The Finnish team showcased its offensive capabilities, overwhelming the Latvian defense throughout the game.

Finland's head coach expressed satisfaction with the team's performance but emphasized the need for continuous improvement throughout the tournament. "Started with the win, and of course we managed the puck a lot of time in the game, and I know we have lots of chances to score many goals. But there's a lot of things to do and getting better for this tournament, but a good start for us.".

Roope Vesterinen scored two goals in Finland's initial match against Denmark. Jasper Kuhta contributed three assists in the same game, highlighting Finland's offensive depth. Onni Kalto, Oliver Suvanto, Aatos Koivu, and Joona Saarelainen also scored for Finland in their game against Denmark. Petteri Rimpinen made eight saves in that match.

Latvia, after an unexpected performance in the 2025 World Juniors, faces a tough road ahead in the 2026 tournament. Despite the lopsided score, Latvia aims to use this game as a learning experience and prepare for upcoming matches. In the 2025 tournament, Latvia secured a memorable upset against Canada and a crucial win against Germany to avoid the relegation round. Goalie Linards Feldbergs had standout performances against Canada, USA, and Sweden. Eriks Mateiko's contributions were also vital to Latvia's success in the previous year's tournament.

Looking ahead, Finland is set to face Czechia and Canada in their upcoming matches. Latvia is scheduled to compete against Denmark and Czechia.