MILAN — USA forward Brock Nelson has a long family history of Olympic success with relatives on two USA gold-medal teams.
Nelson put his own imprint on the 2026 USA team with two second-period goals in a 5-1 rout of Latvia.
He was involved in some bad luck in the first period on two disallowed goals. He was offsides on a Quinn Hughes goal and his deflection goal didn’t count because of J.T. Miller’s goaltender interference.
But there was no doubt on Nelson’s second period goal that put the USA ahead 2-1. He pointed to the net as if to say, “That counts.”
There also was no doubt on the fourth, a beautiful tic-tac-toe play.
‘He’s just such a good hockey player,’ coach Mike Sullivan said of Nelson. ‘He’s got a mature game. He plays on both sides of the puck. He can score goals. He’s a cerebral player. He’s conscientious defensively. You can use him on the penalty kill. If we needed him on a power play, we could use him on a power play.’
Nelson is the nephew of 1980 winner Dave Christian. His grandfather Bill and great-uncle Roger won gold in 1960.
Family was big in the USA’s opening win. Matthew Tkachuk fed brother Brady for the opening goal and brothers Quinn and Jack Hughes combined for four assists.
Tage Thompson and Auston Matthews also scored for the USA, which faces Denmark on Saturday, Feb. 14.
In other preliminary action on Thursday, Switzerland shut out France 4-0, Canada blanked Czechia 5-0 and Germany beat Denmark 3-1.
USA TODAY provided live updates from the USA vs. Latvia game. Here are highlights:
Watch Winter Olympics on Peacock
Final score: USA 5, Latvia 1
The United States outshoots Latvia 48-18 to win its Olympic opener. Denmark is next up on Saturday.
Latvia power play
Brady Tkachuk, Brock Faber and a Latvian player go off for cross-checking. USA kills it off.
5 minutes left
5-1 USA.
Latvia power play
Dylan Larkin is called for slashing. USA kills it off.
USA goal: Auston Matthews scores on power play
Jack Eichel finds Auston Matthews out front for a power play goal. USA 5, Latvia 1
USA power play
Kaspars Daugavins is called for tripping.
Third period underway
4-1 USA.
Latvia goalie change
Arturs Silovs is in net to start the third period.
Brock Nelson Olympic family history
Brock Nelson has two goals in the game for the USA. His uncle Dave Christian won gold with the 1980 team. Bill Christian, his grandfather, won gold in 1960.
‘I felt a lot of emotions coming out there,’ he said about becoming an Olympian. ‘Super special. Lots of family to share with, too. Just awesome.’
End of second period: USA 4, Latvia 1
The Americans could finally celebrate a second goal midway through the second period: This time, there was nothing to challenge. Vincent Trocheck found Jack Hughes with a pass behind the net, Hughes found Brock Nelson in the low slot, and he maneuvered the puck past Elvis Merzlikins and into the net. Merzlikins had a busy period trying to give his teammates a chance as the Americans took command, swarming around with the puck. Brady Tkachuk delivered a big hip check and made a nuisance of himself around the crease.
The U.S. moved further ahead on a power play with 2:25 to play in the period. Tage Thompson took a pass from Jack Eichel by the net, pivoted and got the puck on his backhand to make it 3-1. There was 11.1 seconds on the clock when the Americans made it 4-1 on a tic-tac-toe goal by Nelson.
USA goal: Brock Nelson scores again
Big tic-tac-toe passing display there before Jack Hughes feeds Brock Nelson for his second goal of the game. USA 4, Latvia 1
USA goal: Tage Thompson scores on power play
Tage Thompson is known for his stickhandling and he shows why on this goal with his move before scoring on a backhander. USA 3, Latvia 1
USA power play
Roberts Mamcics is called for cross-checking.
USA pressing
Elvis Merzlikins stops Matt Boldy in close and the USA continues to press. It eventually leads to a Latvia penalty.
USA goal: Brock Nelson gives USA lead
Brock Nelson takes a pass from Jack Hughes, fakes a shot and beats Elvis Merzlikins with a backhander at 10:38 of the second period. No challenges on this one. Nelson was offsides on the first disallowed goal and had scored another disallowed goal. But this one counts. USA 2, Latvia 1
Latvia power play
USA’s Jake Guentzel is called for hooking 40 seconds into the second period. Draft-eligible Alberts Smits was out there. USA kills it off.
Second period underway
1-1. U-S-A chants start.
Brady Tkachuk on the disallowed goals
USA goal scorer Brady Tkachuk talked to NBC in the first intermission about the turn of events in the first period that included two overturned goals.
‘You just have to embrace everything that comes your way, good or bad,’ he said. ‘I think we’re going to learn so much about ourselves, the adversity and all that, the individual maturity that we all have.’
End of first period: USA 1, Latvia 1
The atmosphere was great, with chants of “Lat-via” and “U-S-A” setting the tone at Santaguilia Arena, but it was a challenging first period for the Americans.
They came out with speed and immediately attacked Elvis Merzlikins. Dylan Larkin missed an open net early on, but Brady Tkachuk made it 1-0 at 5:29. The Americans celebrated again a couple minutes later when Quinn Hughes put the puck in Latvia’s net, but Latvia challenged and video review showed the play was offside. Instead Latvia gained momentum off a goal from Renars Krastenbergs at 7:24. Latvia challenged goaltender interference when Brock Nelson deflected in a shot from the point at 11:35 and again were successful. The U.S. had a 15-9 edge in shots.
USA power play
Renars Krastenbergs is called for holding. Latvia kills it off. USA gets two shots.
Another USA goal is overturned
Brock Nelson, who was offsides on Latvia’s first successful goal challenge, has a great deflection in front. But Latvia challenges and a review determines that J.T. Miller interfered with goalie Elvis Merzlikins. Still 1-1.
Auston Matthews injury update
USA captain Auston Matthews appeared to be in pain on the bench, but he has returned to the ice.
Latvia goal: Latvia ties it up
Big turn of events. After the USA goal is overturned, Renars Krastenbergs ties the game for Latvia. USA 1, Latvia 1
USA goal overturned
Quinn Hughes scored, but Latvia challenged for offsides and wins the challenge. Still 1-0 USA.
USA goal: Tkachuk brothers connect
Matthew Tkachuk makes a nice pass to brother Brady, who rips a shot past Elvis Merzlikins. Zach Werenski gets the second assist. USA 1, Latvia 0
USA chance
Dylan Larkin gets a rebound of a Zach Werenski shot, but the puck slides through the crease.
Game underway
Connor Hellebuyck vs. Elvis Merzlikins in net. Auston Matthews line out first.
Where to watch USA men’s hockey vs. Latvia
USA Network is broadcasting the game, and Peacock is streaming it live.
What time is USA men’s hockey vs. Latvia today?
Puck drop is at 3:10 p.m. ET.
Goaltending matchup
USA’s Connor Hellebuyck vs. Latvia’s Elvis Merzlikins.
USA lines vs. Latvia
Latvia lines vs. USA
When is the Olympic men’s hockey tournament?
The tournament started Feb. 11 with two games. The USA opens play Feb. 12 against Latvia. All teams will play three games during the round robin, which runs through Feb. 15. The top four teams get byes to the quarterfinals.
Playoff qualification games are on Feb. 17 for teams ranked fifth through 12th, quarterfinals are Feb. 18 and semifinals are Feb. 20.
The bronze medal game is Feb. 21 and the gold medal game is Sunday, Feb. 22.
How long is NHL Olympic break?
The NHL will take a break from Feb. 6-24 for the 2026 Winter Olympics. No trades can take place during the Olympic break.
Why are there no fights in Olympic hockey?
International Ice Hockey Federation prohibits fighting, and it could lead to an ejection and a suspension.
‘Fighting is not part of international ice hockey’s DNA,’ the organization states in Rule 46 of the IIHF rulebook.
‘Players who willingly, participate in a ‘brawl/fight’ so-called ‘willing combatants,’ shall be penalized accordingly by the referee(s) and may be ejected from the game,’ the rulebook says. ‘Further supplementary discipline may be imposed.’
USA men’s hockey roster for 2026 Olympics
Forwards: Matt Boldy (Minnesota Wild), Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets), Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights), Jake Guentzel (Tampa Bay) Lightning, Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils), Clayton Keller (Utah Mammoth), Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings), J.T. Miller (New York Rangers), Brock Nelson (Colorado Avalanche), Tage Thompson (Buffalo Sabres), Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators), Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers), Vincent Trocheck (New York Rangers)
Defensemen: Brock Faber (Minnesota Wild), Noah Hanifin (Vegas Golden Knights), Quinn Hughes (Minnesota Wild), Jackson LaCombe (Anaheim Ducks), Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins), Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators), Jaccob Slavin (Carolina Hurricanes), Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets), Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars), Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins)
Olympic hockey games today
All times Eastern.
Men’s preliminary games:
Switzerland 4, France 0
Canada 5, Czechia 0
USA 5, Latvia
Germany 3, Denmark 1
Women’s preliminary games:
Canada 5, Finland 0
How the Olympics men’s hockey tournament works
The 12 teams are divided into three groups. They are:
Group A: Canada, Switzerland, Czechia, France
Group B: Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy
Group C: USA, Germany, Latvia, Denmark
Teams play one game each against the other three teams in their group. Countries get three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime win, one for an overtime/shootout loss and zero for a regulation loss.
After the preliminary round is complete, teams are seeded 1 through 12 under the following criteria:
Higher position in the group
Higher number of points
Better goal difference
Higher number of goals scored for
Better IIHF world ranking
The top four teams get a bye to quarterfinal. Teams 5-12 play in a qualifying round, with the winners going to the quarterfinals.
