Eriks Mateiko

Eriks Mateiko is a Latvian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League while under contract as a prospect to the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. He was drafted 90th overall by the Capitals in the 2024 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Mateiko was selected 108th overall by the Saint John Sea Dogs in the 2022 CHL Import Draft. He played the 2022–23 season with the Sea Dogs, registering 16 goals and 20 assists in 62 games. His breakout year came in the 2023–24 season, where he improved his performance to 23 goals and 20 assists in 49 games, leading the team in goals.
In the 2024 NHL entry draft, Mateiko was selected 90th overall by the Washington Capitals in the third round. On September 27, 2024, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Capitals, set to begin in the 2025–26 season.
During the 2024–25 season, on January 6, 2025, Mateiko was traded by the Sea Dogs to the Rimouski Océanic, to play out his final year of junior hockey.

Mateiko represented Latvia men's national under-18 ice [hockey team|Latvia] at the U18 World Championships in 2022 and 2023, captaining the team in his second tournament.
He also represented Latvia at the World Juniors in 2024 and 2025. In the 2025 tournament, he led his team in points, scoring five of the team's ten goals, including one in Latvia's 3–2 upset against Canada men's national [junior ice hockey team|Canada], two in their 4–3 win against Germany, and two in their 3–2 quarterfinal loss to Sweden. Mateiko finished the tournament tied for fourth in goals.