Latvia stuns Canada in world junior hockey, winning 3-2 on lone shootout goal

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Eriks Mateiko scored the lone goal of a shootout in the eighth round to give Latvia a 3-2 victory over Canada on Friday night in the world junior hockey championship.

Mateiko beat Jack Ivankovic to the blocker side to end the tiebreaker after the first 15 shooters failed to score.

“We found a way,” coach Artis Abols said after Latvia’s third victory in 38 games in the tournament. “In one hockey game, everything is possible.”

Mateiko and Peteris Bulans scored late power-play goals in the Group A game at Canadian Tire Centre. Mateiko tied it at 1 with 6:42 left and Bulans evened it at 2 with 2:29 to go.

“They battled,” Canadian coach Dave Cameron. “Credit to them.”

Linards Feldbergs stopped 55 shots for Latvia in its tournament opener.

“Crazy,” Feldbergs said. “Can’t believe what we did. I’m still in shock.”

Calum Ritchie and Jett Luchanko scored for Canada. Ivankovic made 24 saves.

Canada took a penalty for too many men on the ice in 3-on-3 overtime, but survived that short-handed situation to force the shootout.

“Devastating,” Canadian defenseman Tanner Molendyk said. “An eye-opener. It’s not one you want to lose, not one you see yourself losing.”

Ivankovic became the third 17-year-old goaltender to play for Canada at the under-20 tournament, and the first to start a game since Jimmy Waite in 1987.

In the other group A game, Finland beat Germany 3-1. Emil Pieniniemi, Arttu Alasiurua and Jesse Kiiskinen scored and Petteri Rimpinen made 31 saves to help Finland rebound from an opening 4-0 loss to Canada on Thursday night.

The defending champion United States opened Group A play Thursday night with a 10-4 victory over Germany. The Americans will face Latvia on Saturday.

In Group B at TD Place, Sweden routed Kazakhstan 8-1, and Slovakia edged Switzerland 2-1.

Anton Wahlberg scored one of Sweden’s five-period goals and had another in the second.

Victor Eklund, David Edstrom, Linus Eriksson, Felix Nilsson, Oskar Vuollet and David Granberg also scored and Marcus Gidlof made 15 saves for Sweden, coming off a 5-2 victory over Slovakia on Thursday in the its opener.

Jan Chovan broke a third-period tie for Slovakia.

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Latvia goaltender Linards Feldbergs, foreground, turns to make a save against Canada with help from teammate Martins Klaucans, right, during first-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Gavin McKenna (9) and Latvia's Viktors Kurbaka (3) grab on to each other after the whistle as linesperson Nick Briganti tries to separate them during second period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round actio in Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada's Berkly Catton, left, and Porter Martone (22) battle for the puck with Latvia's Viktors Kurbaka (3) in front of Latvia goaltender Linards Feldbergs (29) during second-period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Latvia goaltender Linards Feldbergs (29) makes a save on Canada's Cole Beaudoin, second left, as Latvia's Krisjanis Sarts (2) defends during the third period of a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round game in Ottawa, Ontario on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Latvia's Eriks Mateiko (9) scores on Canada goaltender Jack Ivankovic (1) during the third period of a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round game in Ottawa, Ontario on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Latvia's Eriks Mateiko, left, celebrates his game-winning shootout goal against Canada with Toms Mots (12) and Davids Livsics (7) in a IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round game in Ottawa, Ontario on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada goaltender Jack Ivankovic is scored against by Latvia's Eriks Mateiko during shootout IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

Latvia players celebrate after defeating Canada in shootout IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)

The discount chain Big Lots, which filed for bankruptcy protection in September, has reached a deal that will keep hundreds of its stores and distribution centers open.

Big Lots said Friday it will be sold to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, a firm that specializes in distressed companies. Gordon Brothers will then transfer Big Lots’ stores, distribution centers and other assets to other retailers.

Variety Wholesalers Inc., which owns more than 400 discount stores in the U.S. Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, plans to acquire between 200 and 400 Big Lots stores and operate them under the Big Lots brand. Variety Wholesalers will also acquire up to two distribution centers.

“This sale agreement and transfer present the strongest opportunity to preserve jobs, maximize value for the estate and ensure continuity of the Big Lots brand,” Big Lots President and CEO Bruce Thorn said in a statement. "We are grateful to our associates nationwide for their grit and resilience throughout this process.”

Columbus, Ohio-based Big Lots sells furniture, home decor and other items. When it filed for bankruptcy in September, it said inflation and high interest rates caused consumers to pull back on their purchases of home and seasonal products, two categories the chain depends on for a significant part of its revenue.

At the time, Big Lots planned to sell its assets and ongoing business operations to private equity firm Nexus Capital Management.

But on Dec. 20, Big Lots said the deal with Nexus didn't materialize. It then partnered with Gordon Brothers to conduct going-out-of-business sales at its 869 U.S. locations.

FILE - A shopper leaves the Big Lots store on Dec. 4, 2012 in Berlin, Vt. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)