With the World Junior Championships around the corner, some United States Hockey League players are preparing to take their talents to Minnesota to represent their home countries on the world’s stage.
One of these players is Rūdolfs Bērzkalns, who currently plays for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. Bērzkalns is off to a strong start with the Lumberjacks, having posted seven goals and nine assists through his first 27 games played, good for eighth overall on the Lumberjacks in points.
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In 2024-25, Bērzkalns’ first season with the Lumberjacks, the forward recorded five goals and three assists over 43 games after making the jump from the Bishop Kearney Selects program. The positive step in year two of the USHL is a great sign for the 6-foot-3 Latvian.
Bērzkalns developing as a player is exactly what Boston College is hoping for as well as Bērzkalns is committed to continuing his hockey career with the Eagles in 2026-27. A 2026 draft-eligible player has been graded as a solid prospect, projected to be selected in the middle rounds. Graded out as “C” rated prospect by National Hockey League Central Scouting, strong showing in Minnesota could help Bērzkalns climb the draft board for when June comes around.
Latvia Unveils Roster for the 2026 World Juniors
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At last year’s World Junior Championships in Ottawa, Ontario, Team Latvia shocked the world, upsetting Canada 3-2 in a shootout, in what was the biggest win the Nation had ever experienced at the Junior level. Latvia had never beaten Canada at the U-20 level until that night, taking down Canada on their home soil.
The Latvians were competitive for the duration of the tournament, defeating Germany 4-3 in overtime, while only falling to the United States 5-1 and Finland 3-0. Latvia almost shocked the hockey world again in the quarterfinals when they battled powerhouse Sweden, eventually falling 3-2, in a result that not many hockey fans could have predicted.
The stars of the 2025 team were forward Eriks Mateiko, who scored five goals in five games and current Sioux Falls Stampede goaltender Linards Feldbergs, who recorded 55 saves against Canada in the win and 47 saves against Sweden in the quarterfinals loss. Both of these players have aged out, passing the torch to other players to build off what the Latvians achieved at the 2025 World Juniors.
Bērzkalns was a part of that 2025 team in Ottawa, recording one assist over the five games in his first experience at the U-20 level. With only one drafted player on the roster in defenseman Darels Uljanskis, Bērzkalns will be tasked with providing offense for the Latvians in Minnesota.
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As Bērzkalns continues to grow in his second season in the USHL, the World Juniors are a perfect opportunity for the 17-year-old to keep building on what is becoming a strong 2025-26 season in Muskegon.
