Latvian hockey legionnaires: Gavars nets two shorthanded goals, tough night for Grigals in Finland
Latvian hockey players abroad had a mixed round of games this week, as Mlada Boleslav forward Fēlikss Gavars scored twice while shorthanded and goaltender Gustavs Grigals suffered a loss in Finland's Liiga.
Czech Extraliga
Several Latvians featured for HC Jihlava. A 25-year-old player who has represented the club since 2022 fired two shots on goal in 17.5 minutes of ice time and finished with a plus-one rating. His defensive partner Ralfs Bergmanis (nine games this season, one goal) logged similar ice time but picked up a penalty. The more experienced Edgars Kulda (nine games, two assists) had a tougher outing, losing 10 of 17 faceoffs in 18.5 minutes, taking two penalty minutes and finishing at minus-one.
Meanwhile, Mlada Boleslav forward Fēlikss Gavars has been on a hot streak since Sunday, scoring two shorthanded goals in the Czech Extraliga.
Finnish Liiga
After sitting out two games, Gustavs Grigals returned to the net for Lappeenranta's SaiPa. The team fell 1:4 at home to Oulu's Kärpät in round eight, snapping a two-game winning streak. Grigals stopped 19 of 23 shots. Across three appearances so far this autumn season, his save percentage stands at 91.4%.
Danish championship
Esbjerg Energy lost 5:6 in a shootout to the Frederikshavn White Hawks. Veteran Artūrs Kulda (eight games, two goals, three assists) added an assist, while young players Elvis Laškovs (seven games), a defensive pairing partner, and Edvards Bergmanis (seven games) both finished pointless.
