USA vs. Latvia: Live score, highlights, updates from 2023 World Juniors game

The 2022 World Juniors did not end as expected for the USA. After dominating their group in the preliminary round, the Czech Republic suffered a surprise loss to the USA in the quarterfinals, missing out on the 2021 title.

The journey back to the podium for the United States begins today as the team opens the 2023 World Juniors against Latvia.

The Americans are expected to be gold medal contenders once again. Luke Hughes and Logan Cooley are the two key returnees from the 2022 squad. Each averaged one point per game for the United States in the 2022 tournament, with six points in five games for both.

MORE: Watch World Youth 2023 live with fuboTV (free trial, US only)

Cutter Gauthier, Jimmy Snuggerud and Lane Hutson are three newcomers expected to play major roles in the US. Gauthier and Snuggerud played on a dominant line with Cooley when the three were on the U18 USA team and have been playing together since before the tournament officially began. Hutson is expected to play second fiddle to Hughes as the driver of the offense.

Latvia has struggled to stay in the world’s top junior competition, but will reach its best finish in 2022. The country picked up its first win in the qualifying round, defeating the Czech Republic in its final group game.

The historic victory also allowed Latvia to leave the quarterfinals for the first time. However, this team lost to Sweden and finished the tournament in seventh place.

This will be the fourth time the USA has played Latvia at the World Youth Championships. The United States had won all three previous contests, outscoring Latvia 30-4 overall.

MORE: Team USA roster, 2023 World Junior standings

Sporting News provides live updates and highlights from the USA vs. Latvia match at the 2023 World Youth Cup.

Score USA vs. Latvia

USA vs Latvia live updates, World Junior 2023 highlights

Before the game

3:30 p.m. Trey Augustine of Kaidan Mbereko points to the US. Mbereko was No. 1 at the 2022 World Juniors, but Rand Pecknold is going with the USA U18 goalkeeper.

Trey Augustin will get the nod for the U.S. rather than Kaidan Mbereko, who started four games in the August tournament. Augustine has committed a draft eligible goaltender to Michigan State for 2023-24. 12-0-2, 2.10, .930 for the USNTDP U-18 team this season.

— John Rosen (@jonnyrosen) December 26, 2022

3:15 p.m. This is where the two teams will line up for their opener. These are the same lines and pairings from their two exhibition games for the US.

Team USA vs. Latvia at 4:30 PM EST.

Trey Augustin (2023) starts USA’s opener against Latvia, lines unchanged from USA’s pre-tournament games. #WJC2023 #World of Youth pic.twitter.com/sYpu5HpOu9

— Brandon Holmes (@BHolmes_Hockey) December 26, 2022

Today USA and Latvia on which channel?

• United States: NHL Network
• Canada: TSN 1

TSN has all the World Juniors action in Canada, while in the United States viewers can find the games on the NHL Network.

EJ Hradek will provide game-by-game coverage for NHL Network. He will be joined on the programs by analyst Dave Starman and reporter John Rosen.

Dennis Beyak and Craig Button will call the USA games for TSN. Laura Deacoon and Dave Reed will be in the studio.

How to watch World Juniors hockey games live

US fans can stream the tournament on fuboTV (which comes with a free trial), NHL.tv or the NHL app.

Canadian fans can stream all World Juniors games on TSN.ca or the TSN app.

Odds of USA and Latvia

• USA: -5.5 (-119)
• Latvia: +5.5 (-116)
• O/O: 7.5

According to Sports Interaction, USA opened against Latvia as massive favorites and the line was 5.5 in favor of the Americans.

USA Youth World Ranking 2023

(All Time Eastern)