Dans Locmelis
Latvia 5 – Slovenia 2
Latvia triumphs over Slovenia in a thrilling 5-2 Victory at the IIHF World Championships on Tuesday to improve to 2-0-0-1. From the opening faceoff, it was clear that neither team was interested in playing a conservative game. Slovenia started strong, outshooting Latvia 4-0 early in the first period, but Latvia carried the more dangerous scoring chances.
Slovenia struck first just minutes into the second period when Marcel Mahkovec capitalized on a rebound to silence the Latvian fans. However, Latvia responded swiftly, with Kristians Rubins tying the game at 8:50 by burying a rebound in front of the net.
The game’s most chaotic stretch came midway through the second period. At 12:02, Latvia took the lead when Anri Ravinskis finished off a broken-stick slap shot from Eduards Tralmaks. Just 21 seconds later, Martins Dzierkals extended the lead to 3-1 with a wrist shot past Slovenian goaltender Lukas Horak. Slovenia refused to back down, responding 31 seconds later with a fortunate bounce off a Latvian defender’s shin pad to make it 3-2.
Latvia quickly regained control, with Dans Locmelis circling the offensive zone, he dropped a pass to Roiberts Mamcics who returned the feed to Locmelis in the slot for his third of the tournament. Tralmaks sealed the victory with a dazzling individual effort, winning a puck battle in the neutral zone before beating a Slovenian defenseman and flipping the puck top shelf for the final 5-2 score.
Locmelis finished with a goal, two shots on net, 50% at the faceoff dot and was a plus-2 and 20:16 TOI to lead all forwards.
Latvia 0 – Sweden 6
The Swedish squad showcased their depth, with six different goal scorers contributing to the win, while goaltender Samuel Ersson stood tall, securing a 20-save shutout on Wednesday.
Despite Sweden’s offensive firepower, the first period remained scoreless, thanks to Latvia’s disciplined defense and stellar goaltending from Kristers Gudlevskis, who made 21 saves throughout the game. Sweden dominated possession, creating multiple scoring chances, but Latvia managed to hold them off, keeping the game tight.
The second period saw Sweden break the deadlock in spectacular fashion. Team captain Rasmus Andersson opened the scoring with a brilliant solo effort, skating around Latvian defenders before lifting the puck into the net at 10:15. Just 12 seconds later, Sweden struck again—Jonas Brodin fired a shot toward the net, and Anton Bengtsson capitalized on the rebound, making it 2-0.
Latvia struggled to regain momentum, barely managing to carry the puck into Sweden’s zone. The Swedish defense remained impenetrable, shutting down any Latvian attempts at offense.
Sweden wasted no time extending their lead in the third period. Lucas Raymond set up Leo Carlsson on a partial breakaway, but instead of taking the shot himself, Carlsson dropped the puck back to Raymond, who one-timed it into the net just 36 seconds into the period.
With 11:28 remaining, Adam Larsson fired a slap shot from the point, which deflected off a Latvian player’s skate and found the back of the net, making it 4-0. Sweden continued their relentless attack, with Mika Zibanejad and Alexander Wennberg executing a perfect give-and-go play, leading to an unfortunate own goal by a Latvian defenseman, pushing the score to 5-0. Sweden capped off their dominant performance with a final goal at 1:11 remaining—Jesper Froden and Raymond set up Elias Lindholm, who tapped the puck in for the 6-0 finish.
Locmelis finished the match a minus-2 with 1 shot on goal, a slashing penalty and 2 for 6 on the dot with his lowest time on ice in the tournament at 14:28.
Latvia 1 – Finland 2
In a game where every shift mattered, Finland secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Latvia at the 2025 IIHF World Championships on Saturday. With this win, Finland moved one step closer to a quarterfinal berth, solidifying their position in the tournament standings.
From the opening puck drop, both teams demonstrated a defense-first mentality. Finland controlled possession early, outshooting Latvia 12-3 in the first period, largely due to their two power-play opportunities. The breakthrough came when Juuso Pärssinen drove to the net, attempting a pass that deflected off a Latvian defenseman’s skate and into the goal, giving Finland a 1-0 lead.
The second period saw a flurry of penalties, with both teams spending significant time in the box. At one point, three Finnish players and two Latvians were simultaneously serving penalties, creating a chaotic sequence that disrupted the flow of the game.
Latvia pushed hard in the third period, increasing their offensive pressure. However, Finnish goaltender Juuse Saros remained composed, making 20 saves throughout the game. Finland capitalized on a power play opportunity when Mikko Lehtonen fired a slap shot from the point, beating Latvian goalie Kristers Gudlevskis low on the blocker side to extend Finland’s lead to 2-0.
With just five minutes remaining, Latvia found a spark. Ralfs Freibergs launched a long stretch pass to Rudolfs Balcers, who set up Rodrigo Ābols for a top-shelf laser, cutting Finland’s lead to 2-1. Latvia continued to press, pulling their goalie for an extra attacker in the final minutes, but Finland’s defense held firm, securing the victory.
With this win, Finland now sits at 11 points, inching closer to a quarterfinal spot. Their remaining games against Canada and Slovakia will be crucial in determining their final placement. Meanwhile, Latvia, with six points, faces an uphill battle as they prepare to take on Slovakia and Austria.
Locmelis was a minus-1 with 2 shots on goal and was 8 for 14 on the dot. Two minor stick penalties may have put him in the doghouse for a moment or two and he had just 14:12 time on ice.
Latvia 5 – Slovakia 1
Latvia delivered a commanding performance against Slovakia in the 2025 IIHF World Championships, securing a decisive 5-1 victory and keeping their quarterfinal hopes alive on Sunday.
Despite Slovakia controlling much of the first period and outshooting Latvia 10-3, Latvia struck first. On their very first shot, Haralds Egle found the back of the net after a quick counterattack, giving Latvia an early lead. Slovakia responded with a power-play goal from Sebastian Cederle, leveling the score at 1-1 before the first intermission.
Latvia came out firing in the second period, quickly regaining the lead. Locmelis scored just 1:31 into the period, capitalizing on a strong forecheck and a slick no-look pass from Eduards Tralmaks. Moments later, Rihards Bukarts extended Latvia’s advantage with a well-executed deke, making it 3-1.
Latvia continued to dominate, with Toms Andersons adding another goal late in the second period. His one-timer, assisted by Martins Lavins, put Latvia firmly in control at 4-1.
Slovakia struggled to mount a comeback in the third period, as Latvia’s defense held strong. With 3:38 remaining, Rodrigo Abols sealed the win with an empty-net goal to complete the scoring.
Locmelis finished with the goal, a plus-1 and three shots on net. He went 5 for 13 on the dot with 16:17 time on ice.
Loke Johansson
Moncton 6 – Rimouski 4
The Moncton Wildcats are on the brink of history. With a thrilling 6-4 win over the Rimouski Océanic on Wednesday, the Wildcats have taken a 3-0 series lead in the QMJHL Finals, putting them just one victory away from securing the Gilles-Courteau Trophy.
If there was one name that stood out in this high-stakes battle, it was Vincent Collard. The Wildcats forward delivered a historic performance, scoring four goals—a feat not seen in a QMJHL final since Paul Byron in 2008. Collard’s offensive explosion was the driving force behind Moncton’s victory, leaving Rimouski’s defense scrambling for answers.
Moncton has been dominant throughout the playoffs at both ends of the ice, winning. Their ability to capitalize on key moments was evident once again in Game 3. While Rimouski fought hard, the Wildcats’ opportunistic play ensured they stayed ahead when it mattered most.
Loke Johansson did not register a point, had 1 shot on goal and was a plus-1 in the game. He had 3 hits, 3 blocked shots and 21:01 time on ice.
With the Wildcats now one win away from their third QMJHL championship, all eyes turn to Game 4, set to take place at Colisée Financière Sun Life on Thursday. Regardless of the outcome, both teams are already guaranteed a spot in the Memorial Cup, which kicks off on May 23, 2025.
Moncton 1 – Rimouski 5
Rimouski refused to go quietly Thursday. Facing elimination, they delivered a commanding 5-1 victory over Moncton, keeping their championship hopes alive and forcing a Game 5.
Rimouski wasted no time asserting their dominance. They erupted for four goals in the first period, stunning Moncton and shifting the momentum of the series. Maël Lavigne led the charge with a goal and an assist, while Maël St-Denis, Jonathan Fauchon, Eriks Mateiko, and Maxime Coursol all found the back of the net.
Moncton’s starting goaltender, Rudy Guimond, struggled early, allowing three goals on eight shots before being pulled. Mathis Rousseau stepped in and made 25 saves on 27 shots, but the damage had already been done.
While Rimouski’s offense stole the show, their defense was equally impressive. Mathis Langevin was a brick wall in net, stopping 29 of 30 shots and coming within minutes of a shutout. His stellar performance gave Rimouski the confidence to control the pace of the game.
Moncton’s lone goal came in the third period, courtesy of Julius Sumpf, but by then, the outcome was all but decided. Johansson was pointless and without a shot on goal and had 3 hits and 3 blocked shots in 18:22 time on ice.
Rimouski 3 – Moncton 1
There will be a game 6!
The Rimouski refused to back down in the Gilles-Courteau Trophy Championship Series, securing a crucial 3-1 victory over the Moncton on Saturday. With their backs against the wall, Rimouski delivered a defensive masterclass in front of 8,500 fans at Moncton’s Avenir Centre, cutting Moncton’s series lead to 3-2 and forcing a Game 6 in Rimouski.
From the opening puck drop, it was clear that Rimouski came prepared to battle. The Océanic played a structured, disciplined defensive game, frustrating Moncton’s high-powered offense. Goaltender Mathis Langevin was the backbone of Rimouski’s effort, turning aside 33 shots en route to earning First Star honors.
Moncton struck first late in the first period, with Preston Lounsbury netting his eighth goal of the playoffs, assisted by Gabe Smith and Loke Johansson. However, Rimouski responded in the second period when Mael Lavigne buried the eventual game-winning goal at 9:05, shifting the momentum in favor of the visitors.
As the Wildcats pressed for an equalizer in the third period, Rimouski’s defense held firm. Jacob Mathieu, a veteran presence for the Océanic, stepped up in the clutch, scoring twice—including an empty-net goal at 18:42 to secure the victory. His leadership and ability to capitalize on key moments proved invaluable.
Besides the assist on the Wildcats lone goal, Johansson had 3 shots on goal, 4 hits and 3 blocked shots in the loss.
Game 6 is on Monday afternoon at 2 PM Atlantic Time, where they will attempt to close out the series and claim the QMJHL Championship. If Rimouski forces a Game 7, the series will return to Moncton’s Avenir Centre on Tuesday at 7 PM. With momentum shifting, the Océanic have a real chance to complete the comeback.
Both teams will be in the Memorial Cup. Rimouski is there as the host city while Moncton will be there as either the QMJHL Champions or as runners up. They will join the London Knights as OHL Champions and Medicine Hat Tigers as WHL Champions.
Here’s what’s coming up on the blog! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be diving into a special series on Bruins prospects, reflecting on their season and culminating in my annual prospect rankings. I’ll also take a deep dive into the NHL Draft, analyzing potential players who could be on the Bruins’ radar come draft day. Stay tuned and make sure to follow the blog—you won’t want to miss it!
Dom - Hockey 