He finished the season playing five games for Vancouver and 44 games for Abbotsford, being named the team MVP for Abbotsford.[5]
Continuing to play primarily in Abbotsford through the 2023–24 season, Šilovs was called up to make his Stanley Cup playoff debut following injuries to Vancouver's regular goaltenders, Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith, three games into the Canucks' first-round series against the Nashville Predators. On 28 April 2024, he started his first playoff game, stopping 27 of 30 shots and helping the Canucks to a 4–3 win.[6] Šilovs retained the net even after DeSmith's return to the roster, and on May 3 he recorded his first playoff shutout in Vancouver's series-clinching Game 6, a 1–0 win. He became the youngest goaltender in franchise history to earn a playoff shutout.[7] In July 2024, Šilovs signed a 2-year extension with the Canucks.[8]
Šilovs made his international debut with Latvia under-18 team at the 2019 World U18 Championships, where his team placed eighth. Three years later, he accepted his first invitation to join the senior national team at the 2022 World Championship, where he played four games and recorded a .952 save percentage. He began the tournament as backup goaltender to Columbus Blue Jackets starter Elvis Merzļikins but was judged to have significantly outperformed Merzļikins during the tournament, and was given the start in the team's final game in the group stage. Latvia did not advance to the knockout rounds.[9]
After his strong showing at the 2022 championships, Šilovs rejoined the national team for the 2023 World Championship, which was jointly hosted by Latvia and Finland. Šilovs relieved goaltender Ivars Punnenovs early in the team's first game of the tournament, and thereafter started every game for Latvia, leading them on an unexpectedly deep run to the bronze medal game. There they defeated the heavily-favoured United States national team, winning the bronze medal, the first of any medals for Latvia at an IIHF World Championship.[10][11] Šilovs played 60 minutes more than any other goaltender in the tournament.[10] In recognition of his pivotal role in the team's success, he was named the championship's best goaltender and most valuable player (MVP) by the IIHF directorate, as well as to the Media All-Star Team.[12] Following the historic result, the Latvian Saeima declared a public holiday.[13] Šilovs later finished second in the voting for the inaugural IIHF Male Player of the Year award, behind Connor Bedard.[14]
Personal life
Šilovs was born in Ventspils, Latvia. He learned to skate when he was three years old, playing forward at that time.[15][16] When he was six years old, he became a goaltender.[16] When he was ten years old, he moved to Riga.[16]
He got married in 2019 at age 18,[17] and divorced in 2023.[18]
