Alberts Šmits makes NHL regular-season debut with the Rangers
18-year-old Latvian defenseman Alberts Šmits made his NHL regular-season debut with the New York Rangers. After the game he said adjusting to the conditions took time, but he felt more comfortable as the game progressed.
The new NHL regular season has brought a new milestone for Latvian hockey, as 18-year-old defenseman Alberts Šmits stepped onto the ice for the first time as a member of the New York Rangers.
Speaking to Latvian Television after the game, Šmits described his impressions from his debut. He said that during the first period he still needed to adjust to the new conditions, but that his performance improved in the second and third periods.
No long-term plans
Asked about his future and the possibility of establishing himself with the NHL club, the young defenseman took a cautious approach. Šmits said he is not planning anything far ahead and is simply living day by day, focusing on each upcoming challenge rather than thinking too far into the future.
Šmits' regular-season debut marks an important step in the young player's career and another sign of Latvian hockey players' presence in the world's strongest league.
