Kristers Gudlevskis. Canadians will remember the name. The 21-year-old Latvian goalie will be remembered as the man who almost single-handedly took down Team Canada.
Gudlevskis stopped 55 of 57 shots in Latvia's 2-1 loss to Canada in the quarterfinals of the men's ice hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday, and The Globe and Mail's James Mirtle has written about the goalie's remarkable and improbable story.
[Gudlevskis' performance] was further proof that goaltending can be a big equalizer in a tournament like this, as Gudlevskis and his $55,000 American Hockey League salary nearly shut down Canada’s $130-million of offensive firepower.
Steve Yzerman, the architect of Team Canada and the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, knows Gudlevskis well. He drafted him last summer, making Gudlevskis only the second goalie to ever come out of Latvia. Arturs Irbe was the first - Latvia has a proud history.
Gudlevskis' numbers in the American Hockey League this season don't stand out. He has a .900 save percentage and 2.69 goals-against average. But Gudlevskis has impressed considering where he's come from, and his age - being drafted at 21 is rare, in any sport.
He's a project for the Lightning. Gudlevskis hasn't been coached much over the years, and, until July, when he reported to Lightning camp, had been using hand-me-down equipment from Latvian goalies before him.
"When he received his new set of gear with the Lightning colors, it was like Christmas," said Lightning goalie coach Frantz Jean. "It was the first new gear he had in years."
Gudlevskis made a name for himself on the international stage on Wednesday. It might take a few years of minor-league seasoning, but the Lightning are hoping he'll make a name for himself in the NHL, too.
