Watertown Shamrocks Forward Named to Latvian World Junior Roster

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown Shamrocks will be well-represented on the international stage this month as the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships (WJC) begin this week in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Current Shamrocks forward Antons Macijevskis has been officially named to the Latvian national team, marking his second consecutive appearance in the prestigious tournament. He is joined by two former Watertown teammates who will also suit up for their respective home countries: Dmitrijs Dilevka (Latvia) and Phileas Lachat (Switzerland).

Head coach and general manager Casey Kirley expressed pride in the trio’s selection, noting the development all three players showed during their time in Watertown.

"Antons and Dima (Dilevka) are both back representing Latvia after doing a great job last year," Kirley said. "Both of them had productive seasons in Watertown last year and grew their games. Antons has been a key player for us again this year, both in terms of his production and leadership, and we are looking forward to him having a big second half."

Macijevskis, a native of Riga, Latvia, is currently enjoying a breakout offensive season for the Shamrocks. In 21 games this year, the pivot has recorded 13 points (four goals, nine assists), nearly surpassing his total of 15 points in 51 games from the previous season.

Alumni Watch

While Macijevskis remains a cornerstone of the current Shamrocks roster, the program is also celebrating the success of its alumni:

·        Dmitrijs Dilevka (Latvia): Dilevka was a top scorer for Watertown last season, finishing sixth on the team with 23 points. This will be his second appearance for the Latvian national team.

·        Phileas Lachat (Switzerland): The goaltender won 10 games for the Shamrocks last season before moving up to the USHL with the Waterloo Black Hawks. This is Lachat's first time representing Switzerland at the WJC. "He has worked extremely hard for the opportunity to represent his home country," Kirley added.

Tournament Outlook

Team Latvia is looking to build on last year's performance, which included a notable upset of Team Canada in the group stage. They open the 2026 tournament with a rematch against Canada on Dec. 27. Meanwhile, Switzerland aims to reach the podium for the first time since earning a bronze medal in 1998.

Team Latvia Schedule (Group B - 3M Arena at Mariucci)

·        Dec. 27: vs. Canada (3:30 PM)

·        Dec. 28: vs. Finland (3:30 PM)

·        Dec. 30: vs. Denmark (3:30 PM)

·        Dec. 31: vs. Czechia (2:30 PM)

Team Switzerland Schedule (Group A - Grand Casino Arena)

·        Dec. 27: vs. United States (5:00 PM)

·        Dec. 28: vs. Sweden (1:00 PM)

·        Dec. 30: vs. Germany (1:00 PM)

·        Dec. 31: vs. Slovakia (12:00 PM)