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)

BOSTON (AP) — A woman who worked as a live-in personal chef for former New England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs declined to answer questions Tuesday about financial demands made on her behalf, as defense attorneys pressed her over claims she was owed money and inconsistencies in what she said she was paid.

Defense attorneys pressed Jamila “Mila” Adams about money she said she was owed after working as a live-in chef. She testified she was paid about $2,000 a week and believed she had not been fully compensated after being sent home. They pointed to a $19,000 demand made on her behalf and suggested the amount grew over time, culminating in a separate claim that her attorney sought $5.5 million.

Diggs has pleaded not guilty to a felony strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault and battery charge stemming from a December incident at his home.

When asked about the $5.5 million claim, Adams said, “I can’t speak on that,” and at other points told jurors, “I don’t understand the question” and “I don’t know how to answer the question.”

Defense attorneys also questioned Adams about a public statement she issued Feb. 13 in which she said, “I have never sought money to settle this matter,” and about hiring a lawyer by mid-April. Adams said she retained an attorney for a workers’ compensation claim, saying she believed she had been injured on the job.

They challenged her accounting of what she was owed, presenting records of payments and suggesting she had sought compensation for weeks she did not work. Adams said she had been confused about the amount and “sent the incorrect amount,” maintaining she believed she was owed money.

Prosecutors pushed back on the defense’s financial-motive argument, eliciting testimony that Adams viewed the dispute as a wage issue, not a settlement. She said her statement that she had “never sought money to settle this matter” referred to the criminal case and that she later retained an attorney for a workers’ compensation claim after she believed she was injured on the job.

At times during her second day on the stand, Adams was instructed by the judge to answer questions directly and not include additional details beyond what was asked. Portions of her responses were struck from the record as nonresponsive, with jurors told to disregard them.

“This is not an opportunity for you to interject your own narrative,” Judge Jeanmarie Carroll, told her at one point, warning that continued nonresponsive answers could result in her testimony being stricken.

The testimony followed sharply conflicting accounts presented to jurors a day earlier.

Adams testified Monday that Diggs “smacked me with an open hand” before wrapping his arm around her neck and choking her, leaving her struggling to breathe. She described what she called a “complicated” relationship, saying it had previously been sexual but was not at the time of the alleged assault. She said she lived in his home, preparing meals and snacks, and had known him for more than four years.

Defense attorneys told jurors the alleged attack never happened, pointing to a lack of medical records, photos or video documenting injuries and saying no one else in the home reported seeing or hearing anything unusual. They also suggested Adams had a financial motive.

Prosecutors say the case centers on what happened on Dec. 2, when they allege Diggs entered Adams’ bedroom, slapped her and put her in a headlock that made it difficult to breathe.

A jury was seated Monday in Norfolk County District Court in Dedham.

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs appears in court during his trial at Norfolk County District Court, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Witness Jamila Adams testifies during the trial of former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs at Norfolk County District Court, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Witness Jamila Adams, right, walks past former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs during Diggs' trial at Norfolk County District Court, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs listens to his defense attorney cross examine witness Jamila Adams during his trial at Norfolk County District Court, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Witness Jamila Adams testifies during the trial of former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs at Norfolk County District Court, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Judge Jeanmarie Carroll questions potential jurors as the assault trial of Stefon Diggs begins in Dedham, Mass., Monday May 4, 2026. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs leaves Norfolk County District Court, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Stefon Diggs' former personal chef, Jamila Adams, is questioned by Assistant District Attorney Drew Virtue in Dedham District Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday May 4, 2026. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Stefon Diggs' former personal chef Jamila Adams is sworn in before giving testimony in Dedham District Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday May 4, 2026. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs returns to Norfolk County District Court, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)