SportsPublished: 27 June 2026 at 03:36

Alberts Šmits Selected 5th Overall in NHL Draft, Sets Latvian Record

Latvian defenseman Alberts Šmits was selected 5th overall in the NHL draft, setting a new Latvian record, and will join the New York Rangers.

The first round of the NHL draft took place overnight Friday in Buffalo, USA. As predicted, a new Latvian record was set when defenseman Alberts Šmits was selected with the highest pick ever for a Latvian player – 5th overall. Šmits was chosen by the New York Rangers, marking a historic moment for Latvian hockey. This surpasses all previous selections of Latvian players in the NHL draft.

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