Team USA Opens Olympic Play with Convincing Win, But Bruins Prospect Dans Locmelis Shines for Latvia
Team USA kicked off its 2026 Winter Olympics campaign with a statement win, cruising past Latvia 5-1 in Thursday’s opener. While the scoreboard told the story of American dominance, the game offered a closer look at some compelling individual performances-including a strong showing from Boston Bruins prospect Dans Locmelis, who made the most of his Olympic debut against one of the deepest rosters in the tournament.
For Team USA, this was the first real test since last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, and all eyes were on how the group would respond after making a few tweaks to the lineup. The answer?
With speed, structure, and a whole lot of offensive firepower. But while the Americans ultimately pulled away in the final two periods, Latvia made them work for it early, holding the game to a 1-1 tie through the first 20 minutes.
One of the more intriguing subplots heading into the game centered around Charlie McAvoy. The Bruins defenseman had a rough outing at the 4 Nations, where a tournament-ending injury cut his campaign short.
Then came another scare just last week-a hit to the head from Florida Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis nearly sidelined him again. But McAvoy returned to action quickly and suited up for Team USA’s Olympic opener, showing no lingering effects from the hit.
Interestingly, Vilmanis was also on the ice in this one-this time wearing Latvia’s colors. But if anyone was expecting fireworks between the two, they’ll have to wait until April 2, when the Bruins and Panthers meet again in South Florida. The Olympic ice wasn’t the stage for that chapter.
What did stand out, though, was the play of Locmelis. The 20-year-old forward, currently skating for the Providence Bruins in the AHL, didn’t look out of place against a stacked American team.
He logged just over 14 minutes and brought energy every shift, especially on the forecheck. He even delivered a heavy hit on Auston Matthews-something that certainly caught the attention of fans and scouts alike.
Locmelis’ game was about more than just physicality. He created chances, played with pace, and showed the kind of poise you want to see from a young player on an international stage.
His performance didn’t go unnoticed, especially given the level of competition. Team USA may have pulled away in the back half of the game, but Locmelis held his own and gave Latvia a spark.
Through 43 games with Providence this season, Locmelis has tallied 15 goals and 13 assists-a solid showing in his first full pro campaign after leaving UMass. And now, with at least three more games to play in the Olympics, he’s getting valuable reps against some of the best talent in the world.
For Team USA, this was the start they were looking for-dominant, composed, and efficient. But for Bruins fans keeping tabs on the future, Locmelis’ performance might have been the most interesting takeaway from Game 1.