Sandis Vilmanis Named to Latvian Olympic Team
Published on January 6, 2026 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC - The Latvian Ice Hockey Federation announced today their roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, and included on the roster is Checkers forward Sandis Vilmanis.
Vilmanis, 21, is in his second season as a North American pro and has totaled 45 points (17g, 28a) in 90 career games with Charlotte. He is currently tied for the team lead in points this season (19), tied for second in assists (11) and tied for third in goals (8).
This will be Vilmanis' first appearance in a Winter Olympics. The 2022 fifth-round pick by Florida has previously represented Latvia internationally, including in three World Junior Championships (2022, 2023, 2024).
"I feel incredibly proud to be selected to represent my national team, especially on the Olympic stage," said Vilmanis. "I hope to make my country very proud and do my best out there."
This marks the first time an active Checkers player has been named to the Winter Olympics. Charlotte's current roster boasts two former Olympians - forward Nate Smith (USA, 2022) and assistant coach Bobby Sanguinetti (USA, 2018) - and several former Checkers have been named to represent their countries at the upcoming games, including Uvis Balinskis (Latvia), Gustav Forsling (Sweden) and Eetu Luostarinen (Finland).
The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will take place in Italy from Feb. 6-22.
American Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2026
- New York Rangers Recall G Spencer Martin and D Scott Morrow from Hartford Wolf Pack, Assign F Brett Berard - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Bears Host Monsters - Hershey Bears
- Ads Celebrate Hockey Fights Cancer with Return of Tough Guys - Milwaukee Admirals
- Providence Bruins Sign Jake Schmaltz to Two-Year AHL Contract Extension - Providence Bruins
- Chicago Wolves to Don Fight against Cancer Jerseys - Chicago Wolves
- Flyers and Phantoms Prospects Shine at World Juniors - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Anaheim Ducks Recall Ville Husso from San Diego - San Diego Gulls
- Roadrunners Kick off 2026 with a Full Month of Home Excitement - Tucson Roadrunners
- Iowa Wild defenseman David Spacek Named to Czech Olympic Team - Iowa Wild
- League-Leading Griffins Welcome Texas for Pair of Games - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Eriks Matieko Named to Team Latvia for 2026 Winter Olympics - Hershey Bears
- Syracuse Crunch Weekly - Vol. 32, No. 13 - Syracuse Crunch
- Penguins Head to North Carolina for Pair of Pivotal Games - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Game Preview: Condors at Canucks, 7 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Tampa Bay Lightning Recall Defenseman Simon Lundmark from Syracuse Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Nate Danielson Returns to Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Belleville Sens Announce Time Change for February 18 Game vs Syracuse - Belleville Senators
- Griffins' Eduards Tralmaks Named to Team Latvia for 2026 Winter Olympics - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Sandis Vilmanis Named to Latvian Olympic Team - Charlotte Checkers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
