While Not Playing In 2026, Canucks’ Teddy Blueger Has Represented Latvia In A Few IIHF World Championships

TL;DR

Teddy Blueger will not represent Latvia at the 2026 IIHF World Championship due to a long season and injury recovery. He previously played for Latvia in several IIHF tournaments from 2017 to 2019.

Key points

Teddy Blueger will not play for Latvia in 2026 IIHF World Championship
He missed half of the regular season due to injury
Blueger previously played for Latvia at IIHF tournaments from 2017 to 2019
Latvia's highest finish during Blueger's participation was eighth place in 2018
He served as captain during the Olympic qualifiers in 2021–22

Teddy BluegerVancouver CanucksPittsburgh PenguinsIIHF World Championship

During his end-of-season media availability, Vancouver Canucks centre Teddy Blueger confirmed that he would not be representing Latvia at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. After missing half of the regular season due to injury, and playing for Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Blueger deduced that missing this year’s tournament is probably for the best.

“It’s been such a long season, such a condensed schedule, and then you’ve got a whole other month till the tournament even begins,” the forward told The Hockey News of his decision at the start of April. “It’s too big of a gap. Then by that time, you either have got to keep training for a month, or [take] a couple weeks off then start training again.”

Blueger’s time at this year’s Olympics was his first time representing Latvia as a member of the Canucks. Previously, his last stint with his country’s team was at the Olympic qualifiers during the 2021–22 season, during which he was named the team’s captain and put up two goals and two assists in three games.

Before the lead-up to the 2026 Olympics, Blueger put together a three-season streak of representing Latvia at the IIHF World Championships. As part of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, he played at each of the tournaments from 2017 to 2019. The highest that Latvia placed in each of these three tournaments was an eighth-place quarter-final finish in 2018, during which Blueger registered one assist in one game.

Apr 7, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Teddy Blueger (53) makes a stick check against the Vegas Golden Knights in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Q&A

Why is Teddy Blueger not playing for Latvia in the 2026 IIHF World Championship?

Teddy Blueger is not playing for Latvia in the 2026 IIHF World Championship due to a long season and the need for recovery after missing half of the regular season due to injury.

What was Teddy Blueger's performance in past IIHF World Championships?

Teddy Blueger represented Latvia at the IIHF World Championships from 2017 to 2019, achieving an eighth-place finish in 2018 and registering one assist in one game.

When did Teddy Blueger last represent Latvia in international play?

Teddy Blueger last represented Latvia during the 2026 Winter Olympics, where it was his first time playing for the national team as a member of the Vancouver Canucks.

What were Teddy Blueger's statistics in the Olympic qualifiers for Latvia?

In the Olympic qualifiers during the 2021–22 season, Teddy Blueger was the team captain and recorded two goals and two assists in three games.