Ansons selected as referee for the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan
The Latvian Ice Hockey Federation is proud to announce that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), following the 2025 World Championship in Sweden and Denmark, has officially announced the list of referees for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan. Among the 13 IIHF-appointed referees is Latvia’s own Andris Ansons.
The selection process took place as part of the “Road to Milan” program, which was launched in 2024. Throughout this process, referees were thoroughly evaluated based on their performance in several major international tournaments, including the 2024 Olympic Qualification Tournaments, the Deutschland Cup, the 2025 World Junior Championship, and the 2025 IIHF World Championship.
A total of 13 referees were selected by the IIHF, who will comprise half of the official officiating team for the Olympic Games. The other half will consist of 13 referees from the National Hockey League (NHL). Together, these 26 referees will form a unified team, ensuring the highest standard of officiating at the Olympic tournament.
For Andris Ansons, this will be his second appearance at the Olympic Games — he previously officiated at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. To prepare for the 2026 Games, Ansons will participate in a preparation camp from August 17 to 20 in Buffalo, New York (USA), where he will work alongside NHL referees, focusing on rule interpretation and developing a unified officiating approach for the Olympic tournament.
Latvian referee Dāvis Zunde was also a participant in the “Road to Milan” program and officiated in all the aforementioned international tournaments. Although he was not selected for the final IIHF officiating roster for the Olympic Games, his performance and professional development have been highly recognized. The Latvian Ice Hockey Federation sincerely thanks Dāvis Zunde for his contributions and will continue to support his professional growth in preparation for future international tournaments.
Andris Ansons’ selection to the Olympic officiating team is a significant achievement both for him personally and for the entire Latvian hockey officiating community. It is a testament to the skills and professionalism of Latvian referees, enhancing Latvia’s reputation on the highest level of international ice hockey.
