Arturs Irbe
Encyclopedia
Artūrs Irbe is a former Soviet
and Latvian
professional ice hockey
goaltender
. He has played in the National Hockey League
(NHL) for the San Jose Sharks
, Dallas Stars
, Vancouver Canucks
, Carolina Hurricanes
and Columbus Blue Jackets
. He served as the goaltending coach for the Washington Capitals
during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. Irbe left the team on June 11, 2011 to spend more time with his family.
in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft
.
His first professional hockey team was Dinamo Riga
of the Soviet Hockey League
(from 1987 to 1991). After playing in only 2 games during the 1986–1987 season Irbe got a chance to become Dinamo Riga
's number one goaltender during the 1987–1988 season when their starting goaltender and Olympic champion, Vitali Samoilov
went down with a long term injury. In his only full professional season, Irbe was outstanding in helping Dinamo Riga
make it to the finals of the Soviet Hockey League where they eventually lost to perennial Soviet champions CSKA Moscow
. During this period he also played for the Soviet Union
in the World Championships in 1989 and 1990. The Soviet team won those two championships and Irbe was honoured as the best goalkeeper of the 1990 tournament. He refused to play for the Soviet Union in 1991 because Latvia had proclaimed independence from the Soviet Union on May 4, 1990 and the Soviet government attempted to use military force in January 1991 to stop Latvia
's independence.
In the 1988–89 season, Irbe travelled to North America with his then club Dinamo Riga
to play in a series of exhibition games against NHL
teams. The next season (1989–90) he was temporarily added to the CSKA Moscow
team during an exhibition tour of North America.
, he played with them from 1991–92 to 1995–96. With Irbe between the pipes, the newly established Sharks made their first playoff appearance in the 1993–94 season and upset the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings
. That season, Irbe played an NHL record 4412 minutes between the pipes for the Sharks. Irbe, affectionately known as Archie
, was nicknamed "The Wall" and became a cult figure in San Jose, a status he enjoys there to this day. Following an injury (his hand being mauled by his pet dog in the offseason) and a poor 1995–96 season, Irbe was released by the Sharks.
For the next two years, he was a backup goaltender for the Dallas Stars
and the Vancouver Canucks
until he became the starter for the Carolina Hurricanes
in the 1998–99. Irbe was picked to be a member of the "World" NHL All-Star team in 1998–1999 season, where he became the first goalie to record an assist in an NHL All-Star game. The highest point of his career with the Hurricanes was 2001–02 when Irbe was instrumental in leading the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup
finals where they fell to the Detroit Red Wings
.
of the ECHL. After going 8-2-1 in 11 games with the Chiefs, Irbe was named as the starter for the Eastern Conference in the 2004 ECHL All-Star Game. However, Irbe was unable to participate due to a wrist injury. On March 19, 2003, Irbe was recalled to the Carolina Hurricanes after goalie Kevin Weekes
was placed on the IR due to season-ending hand surgery.
, but never played with the club due to that year's NHL Lockout. After the lockout that canceled the 2004–2005 season, Irbe never played in the NHL again but chose to continue his career in Europe.
playing in the Slovak Ice Hockey Extraliga
, but he decided to leave after his unsatisfactory results.
In the early 2000s, he placed an ad in the Ottawa Pennysaver seeking any local resident with the famed "Jofa" Goalie mask.
Washington Capitals
after former goaltending coach Dave Prior stepped down due to family reasons.
which raises money for projects assisting abused and abandoned children in Latvia.
At the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Turin, Irbe was Latvia's flag-bearer in the opening ceremonies.
were exhibition games between an NHL team and Soviet teams (usually a club from the Soviet Championship League). Irbe competed in two such series.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and Latvian
Latvians
Latvians or Letts are the indigenous Baltic people of Latvia.-History:Latvians occasionally refer to themselves by the ancient name of Latvji, which may have originated from the word Latve which is a name of the river that presumably flowed through what is now eastern Latvia...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
. He has played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) for the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
, Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
and Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He served as the goaltending coach for the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. Irbe left the team on June 11, 2011 to spend more time with his family.
Playing career
Irbe was drafted in the 10th round, 196th overall by the Minnesota North StarsMinnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft
1989 NHL Entry Draft
The 1989 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 17 at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. Some believe that the Detroit Red Wings' 1989 draft was the most successful ever, with 5,721 total NHL games played by the players selected.-Selections by round:...
.
His first professional hockey team was Dinamo Riga
Dinamo Riga
Dinamo Riga was an ice hockey club, based in Riga, Latvia. It was founded in 1946 and disestablished in 1995 as Pārdaugava Rīga.-History of Dinamo Riga:...
of the Soviet Hockey League
Soviet Hockey League
The Soviet Championship was the highest level ice hockey league in the Soviet Union, running from 1946 to 1992. Before the 1940s the game of ice hockey was not cultivated in Russia, instead the more popular form of hockey was bandy, with history of the game in Russia dating several centuries into...
(from 1987 to 1991). After playing in only 2 games during the 1986–1987 season Irbe got a chance to become Dinamo Riga
Dinamo Riga
Dinamo Riga was an ice hockey club, based in Riga, Latvia. It was founded in 1946 and disestablished in 1995 as Pārdaugava Rīga.-History of Dinamo Riga:...
's number one goaltender during the 1987–1988 season when their starting goaltender and Olympic champion, Vitali Samoilov
Vitali Samoilov
Vitali Samoilov , Vitālijs Samoilovs in Latvian is a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League. He played for Dynamo Riga and Sokol Kiev....
went down with a long term injury. In his only full professional season, Irbe was outstanding in helping Dinamo Riga
Dinamo Riga
Dinamo Riga was an ice hockey club, based in Riga, Latvia. It was founded in 1946 and disestablished in 1995 as Pārdaugava Rīga.-History of Dinamo Riga:...
make it to the finals of the Soviet Hockey League where they eventually lost to perennial Soviet champions CSKA Moscow
HC CSKA Moscow
HC CSKA Moscow is a Russian ice hockey club that plays in the Kontinental Hockey League. It is referred to in the West as "Central Red Army" or the "Red Army Team" for its past affiliation with the Soviet Army, popularly known as the Red Army...
. During this period he also played for the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in the World Championships in 1989 and 1990. The Soviet team won those two championships and Irbe was honoured as the best goalkeeper of the 1990 tournament. He refused to play for the Soviet Union in 1991 because Latvia had proclaimed independence from the Soviet Union on May 4, 1990 and the Soviet government attempted to use military force in January 1991 to stop Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
's independence.
In the 1988–89 season, Irbe travelled to North America with his then club Dinamo Riga
Dinamo Riga
Dinamo Riga was an ice hockey club, based in Riga, Latvia. It was founded in 1946 and disestablished in 1995 as Pārdaugava Rīga.-History of Dinamo Riga:...
to play in a series of exhibition games against NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
teams. The next season (1989–90) he was temporarily added to the CSKA Moscow
HC CSKA Moscow
HC CSKA Moscow is a Russian ice hockey club that plays in the Kontinental Hockey League. It is referred to in the West as "Central Red Army" or the "Red Army Team" for its past affiliation with the Soviet Army, popularly known as the Red Army...
team during an exhibition tour of North America.
NHL
His NHL career began in 1991. His first NHL team was the San Jose SharksSan Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, he played with them from 1991–92 to 1995–96. With Irbe between the pipes, the newly established Sharks made their first playoff appearance in the 1993–94 season and upset the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. That season, Irbe played an NHL record 4412 minutes between the pipes for the Sharks. Irbe, affectionately known as Archie
Archie
-People:* Archie Karas , a Greek gambler known for turning $50 into $40 million before losing it all* Archie Brown , a British political scientist and historian* Archie Macpherson, Scottish sports broadcaster* Archie Thompson, Australian footballer...
, was nicknamed "The Wall" and became a cult figure in San Jose, a status he enjoys there to this day. Following an injury (his hand being mauled by his pet dog in the offseason) and a poor 1995–96 season, Irbe was released by the Sharks.
For the next two years, he was a backup goaltender for the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
and the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
until he became the starter for the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
in the 1998–99. Irbe was picked to be a member of the "World" NHL All-Star team in 1998–1999 season, where he became the first goalie to record an assist in an NHL All-Star game. The highest point of his career with the Hurricanes was 2001–02 when Irbe was instrumental in leading the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
finals where they fell to the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
.
Demotion to ECHL
After a disappointing 2002-03 season, the Hurricanes looked to demote Irbe because they could not move him because of a no-trade clause in his contract. On October 16, 2003, Irbe was assigned to the Johnstown ChiefsJohnstown Chiefs
The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1988 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League when that league was formed...
of the ECHL. After going 8-2-1 in 11 games with the Chiefs, Irbe was named as the starter for the Eastern Conference in the 2004 ECHL All-Star Game. However, Irbe was unable to participate due to a wrist injury. On March 19, 2003, Irbe was recalled to the Carolina Hurricanes after goalie Kevin Weekes
Kevin Weekes
Kevin Weekes is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who most recently played for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League . He is now a color commentator on Hockey Night in Canada, and a studio analyst for NHL on the Fly.- Player :Weekes' career began with the Owen...
was placed on the IR due to season-ending hand surgery.
Return to NHL
In June 2004, he was traded to the Columbus Blue JacketsColumbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, but never played with the club due to that year's NHL Lockout. After the lockout that canceled the 2004–2005 season, Irbe never played in the NHL again but chose to continue his career in Europe.
Return to Europe
He played for HK Riga 2000 in Latvia and EC Red Bulls Salzburg in Austria during the 2004-05 season. He signed with HK Dynamax NitraHK Dynamax Nitra
HK Nitra is a professional ice hockey team in the Slovak Extraliga. They play their home games at Nitra Zimny Arena.-Current squad:-External links:*...
playing in the Slovak Ice Hockey Extraliga
Slovak Extraliga
Slovak Extraliga is the name of the highest-level ice hockey league in Slovakia. As of 2009, it is ranked by the IIHF as the fifth strongest league in Europe. The name of the league is leased to sponsor and changes frequently. From 1993/94 to 1997/98 season it was called Extraliga, then the name...
, but he decided to leave after his unsatisfactory results.
Equipment
He is notable on the ice for his helmet and padding - he has worn them almost continuously since his NHL debut for the Sharks - which are creased and scuffed with puck marks, stains, and tears. He has earned the nickname "Michelin Man" as a result.In the early 2000s, he placed an ad in the Ottawa Pennysaver seeking any local resident with the famed "Jofa" Goalie mask.
Coaching career
In 2008, Irbe signed a three year deal with Dinamo Riga and working as the goaltending coach for the club. In August 2009, Irbe cut ties with Riga and decided to go back to North America to be the goaltending coach of the NHLNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
after former goaltending coach Dave Prior stepped down due to family reasons.
Personal
Irbe is also a member of board of directors of the Kids First Fund, a non-profit organization based in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
which raises money for projects assisting abused and abandoned children in Latvia.
At the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Turin, Irbe was Latvia's flag-bearer in the opening ceremonies.
Regular season
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SV% | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983–84 | Latvijas Berzs Riga | Soviet III Pervaya Liga The Russian Hockey League , until 2010 known as the First League , during the 2010–11 season known as the Championship of Russia between the club teams of regions , is an ice hockey league in Russia. It is a feeder league to the Kontinental Hockey League and the Vysshaya Khokkeynaya Liga. Majority... |
||||||||||||||||||
| 1984–85 | Latvijas Berzs Riga | Soviet III | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1985–86 | ShVSM Riga | Soviet III | 9 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1986–87 | ShVSM Riga | Soviet III | 47 | 2,643 | 134 | 3.04 | ||||||||||||||
| 1986–87 | Dynamo Riga | Soviet | 2 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 2.22 | |||||||||||||
| 1987–88 | Dinamo Riga | Soviet | 34 | 1,870 | 86 | 4 | 2.76 | |||||||||||||
| 1987–88 | ShVSM Riga | Soviet III | 5 | 11 | 3.31 | |||||||||||||||
| 1988–89 | Dinamo Riga | Soviet | 40 | 2,460 | 116 | 4 | 2.83 | |||||||||||||
| 1989–90 | Dinamo Riga | Soviet | 48 | 2,880 | 115 | 2 | 2.40 | |||||||||||||
| 1990–91 | Dinamo Riga | Soviet | 46 | 2,713 | 133 | 5 | 2.94 | |||||||||||||
| 1991–92 | Kansas City Blades Kansas City Blades The Kansas City Blades was a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League from 1990–2001 until the demise of the league after the 2000–01 season. The Blades was based in Kansas City, Missouri at Kemper Arena.... |
IHL | 32 | 24 | 7 | 1 | 1,955 | 80 | 0 | 2.46 | .911 | |||||||||
| 1991–92 | San Jose Sharks San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
13 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 645 | 48 | 0 | 4.47 | .868 | |||||||||
| 1992–93 | Kansas City Blades | IHL | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 364 | 20 | 0 | 3.30 | .876 | |||||||||
| 1992–93 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 36 | 7 | 26 | 0 | 2,074 | 142 | 365 | 1 | 4.11 | .886 | ||||||||
| 1993–94 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 74 | 30 | 28 | 16 | 4,412 | 209 | 1,250 | 3 | 2.84 | .899 | ||||||||
| 1994–95 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 38 | 14 | 19 | 3 | 2,043 | 111 | 2,064 | 4 | 3.26 | .895 | ||||||||
| 1995–96 | Kansas City Blades | IHL | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 226 | 16 | 1,056 | 0 | 4.24 | .843 | ||||||||
| 1995–96 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 22 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 1,112 | 85 | 607 | 0 | 4.59 | .860 | ||||||||
| 1996–97 | Dallas Stars Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The... |
NHL | 35 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 1,965 | 88 | 825 | 3 | 2.69 | .893 | ||||||||
| 1997–98 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL | 41 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 1,999 | 91 | 982 | 2 | 2.73 | .907 | ||||||||
| 1998–99 | Carolina Hurricanes Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center... |
NHL | 62 | 27 | 20 | 12 | 3,643 | 135 | 1,753 | 6 | 2.22 | .923 | ||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 75 | 34 | 28 | 9 | 4,345 | 175 | 1,858 | 5 | 2.42 | .906 | ||||||||
| 2000–01 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 77 | 37 | 29 | 9 | 4,406 | 180 | 1,947 | 6 | 2.45 | .908 | ||||||||
| 2001–02 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 51 | 20 | 19 | 11 | 2,974 | 126 | 1,282 | 3 | 2.54 | .902 | ||||||||
| 2002–03 2002–03 AHL season The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season... |
Lowell Lock Monsters | AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 427 | 21 | 229 | 0 | 2.95 | .908 | ||||||||
| 2002–03 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 34 | 7 | 24 | 2 | 1,884 | 100 | 816 | 0 | 3.18 | .877 | ||||||||
| 2003–04 | Johnstown Chiefs Johnstown Chiefs The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1988 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League when that league was formed... |
ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 847 | 30 | 411 | 1 | 2.13 | .927 | ||||||||
| 2003–04 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 564 | 23 | 228 | 0 | 2.45 | .899 | ||||||||
| 2004–05 | HK Riga 2000 HK Riga 2000 HK Riga 2000 was a Belarusian Extraliga team based in Riga, Latvia. The team had played in the LHL since it was founded. In 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons the club also iced a team in the Belarusian Hockey League, and in 2005-06 finished 3rd. HK Riga 2000 was first foreign team to finish in top three... |
Belarus Extraliga | 29 | 2.04 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2005–06 | HK Rīga 2000 | Belarus Extraliga | 18 | 1.95 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2005–06 | EC Red Bull Salzburg | EBHL | 17 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 1,012 | 35 | 0 | 2.08 | .914 | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | SK Rīga 20 | Latvia Latvian Hockey League The Latvian Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league based in Latvia. It is also known in Latvian as Latvijas atklātais čempionāts hokejā .... |
4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 240 | 21 | 0 | 5.25 | ||||||||||
| 2006–07 | HK Ardo Nitra | Slovak Extraliga Slovak Extraliga Slovak Extraliga is the name of the highest-level ice hockey league in Slovakia. As of 2009, it is ranked by the IIHF as the fifth strongest league in Europe. The name of the league is leased to sponsor and changes frequently. From 1993/94 to 1997/98 season it was called Extraliga, then the name... |
6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 249 | 22 | 0 | 5.31 | .814 | |||||||||
| NHL totals | 568 | 218 | 236 | 79 | 32,066 | 1,513 | 15,033 | 33 | 2.83 | .899 | ||||||||||
Playoffs
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 | Kansas City Blades | IHL | 15 | 12 | 3 | 914 | 44 | 0 | 2.89 | |
| 1993–94 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League , began after the conclusion of the 1993–94 NHL season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the... |
San Jose Sharks | NHL | 14 | 7 | 7 | 806 | 50 | 0 | 3.72 | .875 |
| 1994–95 1995 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 1995 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League was played between May 6 and June 24, 1995. In the Final, the New Jersey Devils swept the favored Detroit Red Wings in four games to win their first championship. The Quebec Nordiques played their last ever playoff series... |
San Jose Sharks | NHL | 6 | 2 | 4 | 369 | 32 | 0 | 5.20 | .848 |
| 1996–97 1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League , began in April, 1997, following the 1996–97 NHL season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series for conference quarter-finals, semi-finals and championships, and then... |
Dallas Stars | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 |
| 1998–99 1999 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League , began in April, 1999, following the 1998–99 NHL season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the... |
Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 6 | 2 | 4 | 408 | 15 | 0 | 2.21 | .917 |
| 2000–01 2001 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League , were played from April until June. The Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils to win its second Stanley Cup.... |
Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 6 | 2 | 4 | 360 | 20 | 0 | 3.34 | .900 |
| 2001–02 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championships of the National Hockey League, was played from April until June. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes four games to one to clinch the 10th championship in their history. It was the Hurricanes first ever appearance in the... |
Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 18 | 10 | 8 | 1,078 | 30 | 1 | 1.67 | .938 |
| 2005–06 | EC Red Bull Salzburg | EBHL | 11 | 2.53 | .897 | |||||
| NHL totals | 51 | 23 | 27 | 2,981 | 142 | 1 | 2.86 | .902 | ||
International
Bolded numbers indicate tournament leader| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SV | SO | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Soviet Union | EJC | 5 | 300 | 5 | 1.00 | ||||||
| 1989 1989 World Ice Hockey Championships -Final Round:-Consolation Round:Poland was relegated to Group B.-World Championship Group B :Played in Oslo and Lillehammer March 30th to April 9th. The April 5th game between Norway and Austria was officially adjusted to 8-0 for Norway because of Siegfried Haberl's positive drug test... |
Soviet Union | WC | 3 | 0 | 1.71 | |||||||
| 1990 1990 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -Final Round:-Consolation Round:Norway needing to keep their final game within four goals, lost four to nothing to the Germans, and were relegated.... |
Soviet Union | WC | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 315 | 5 | 0.95 | .950 | ||
| 1996 1996 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships - Group 2 :- Quarterfinals :- Consolation Round 11-12 Place :Austria was relegated to Group B.- Semifinals :- Match for third place :- Final :-World Championship Group B :... |
Latvia | WC-B | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 240 | 7 | 0 | 1.75 | ||
| 1997 1997 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships - Group 2 :- Second Round 1-6 Place :Teams that had played each other in the first round carried those results forward. First and second place played off for gold, third and fourth for bronze.- Consolation Round 7-12 Place :... |
Latvia | WC | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 300 | 10 | 1 | 2.00 | ||
| 1998 1998 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -World Championship Group C :Played March 22-28 in Budapest, Székesfehérvár and Dunaújváros.- Group 1 :- Group 2 :- Final Round 25-28 Place :Hungary was promoted to Group B.- Consolation Round 29-32 Place :... |
Latvia | WC | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 358 | 17 | 1 | 2.85 | ||
| 1999 1999 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -World Championship Group C:Played at Eindhoven and Tilburg, Netherlands April 5–11. Yugoslavia was supposed to particpate in this tournament, but was prevented by the host Dutch government.-Group 1:-Group 2:-Final Round 25-28 Place:... |
Latvia | WC | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 238 | 12 | 86 | 0 | 3.02 | .860 |
| 2000 2000 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -World Championship Group A :Final standings# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # — relegated to Division I for 2001# -World Championship Group B :... |
Latvia | WC | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 420 | 17 | 163 | 0 | 2.43 | .907 |
| 2001 2001 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -Championship:Final standings# # # # # # # # # # # # # # — relegated to Division I for 2002# — relegated to Division I for 2002# - Group A :Group A was played in Grenoble, France between April 16 and April 22, 2001... |
Latvia | WC | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 360 | 13 | 159 | 2 | 2.17 | .924 |
| 2002 Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics were held at the E Center in West Valley City and Peaks Ice Arena in Provo, Utah. Both the men's and women's tournaments were won by Canada, defeating the host USA in both games.-Men:... |
Latvia | Oly 2002 Winter Olympics The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout... |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 4.00 | .862 |
| 2003 2003 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -Relegation round: avoids relegation by defeating 4-1 in the 2004 IIHF World Championship Far East Qualification game. and are demoted to Division I at the 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.-Scoring leaders:-Goaltending leaders:-Group A:... |
Latvia | WC | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 180 | 9 | 82 | 0 | 3.00 | .901 |
| 2004 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships The 2004 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held April 24-May 9, 2004, in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic. Games for this Ice Hockey World Championships tournament were played at Sazka Arena and ČEZ Aréna... |
Latvia | WC | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 300 | 9 | 111 | 0 | 1.80 | .925 |
| 2005 2005 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships The 2005 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held March 7 - May 15, 2005, in 7 cities in 6 countries: Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria ; Debrecen, Hungary ; Eindhoven, the Netherlands ; Zagreb, Croatia ; Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro ; Mexico City, Mexico... |
Latvia | WC | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 124 | 7 | 117 | 2 | 1.48 | .944 |
| 2006 Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics -Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and... |
Latvia | Oly | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 148 | 14 | 0 | 5.68 | .833 | |
| Olympic totals | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 208 | 18 | 0 | 4.84 | .848 | |||
Super Series statistics
The Super SeriesSuper Series
The Super Series were exhibition games between Soviet teams and NHL teams that took place on each NHL opponents' home ice in North America from 1976 to 1991. The Soviet teams were usually club teams from the Soviet hockey league. The exception was in 1983, when the Soviet National Team represented...
were exhibition games between an NHL team and Soviet teams (usually a club from the Soviet Championship League). Irbe competed in two such series.
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–89 | Dynamo Riga | Super-S Super Series The Super Series were exhibition games between Soviet teams and NHL teams that took place on each NHL opponents' home ice in North America from 1976 to 1991. The Soviet teams were usually club teams from the Soviet hockey league. The exception was in 1983, when the Soviet National Team represented... |
7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 425 | 23 | 0 | 3.25 |
| 1990 | CSKA Moscow HC CSKA Moscow HC CSKA Moscow is a Russian ice hockey club that plays in the Kontinental Hockey League. It is referred to in the West as "Central Red Army" or the "Red Army Team" for its past affiliation with the Soviet Army, popularly known as the Red Army... |
Super-S | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 300 | 18 | 1 | 2.50 |
| Super Series totals | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 725 | 41 | 1 | 2.88 | ||
International
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| EJC Best Goaltender | 1985 |
| WC Best Goaltender | 1990 1990 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -Final Round:-Consolation Round:Norway needing to keep their final game within four goals, lost four to nothing to the Germans, and were relegated.... |
| IIHF Hall of Fame IIHF Hall of Fame The IIHF Hall of Fame is a hall of fame which was established by the International Ice Hockey Federation in 1997, when 30 individuals were inducted at the world championships in Helsinki... |
2009 |
IHL
| Award | Year(s) awarded |
|---|---|
| Turner Cup Turner Cup The Turner Cup is the championship trophy of the International Hockey League. The Cup is named for Joe Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario. Turner became professional with the Detroit Red Wings organization, and played one season with the Indianapolis Capitals in the American Hockey League... |
1992 |
| IHL First All-Star Team | 1992 |
| James Norris Memorial Trophy (IHL) James Norris Memorial Trophy (IHL) The James Norris Memorial Trophy was awarded annually by the International Hockey League to the goaltender, with the fewest goals allowed during the regular season. The trophy is named for James E. Norris, former owner of the Detroit Red Wings, in honor of his contributions to the IHL in its early... |
1992 (Shared with Wade Flaherty Wade Flaherty Wade Flaherty is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who has played in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and the Nashville Predators, as well as several teams in the American Hockey League and East Coast... ) |
NHL
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| NHL All-Star Game | 1994, 1999 |
San Jose Sharks
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Player of the Year | 1994 1993–94 San Jose Sharks season The 1993–94 San Jose Sharks season saw the Sharks finish in third place in the Pacific Division with a record of 33 wins, 35 losses, and 16 ties for 82 points, clinching the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.-Regular season:... |
ECHL
| Award | Year(s) awarded |
|---|---|
| ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... All-Star Game |
2004 (DNP, wrist injury) |
San Jose
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| San Jose Sports Hall of Fame | 2010 |
Transactions
- June 17, 1989 – Drafted by Minnesota in the 10th round, 196th overall
- May 30, 1991 – San Jose in National Hockey League dispersal draft
- July 22, 1996 – Signed as free agent by Dallas
- August 5, 1997 – Signed as free agent by Vancouver
- September 10, 1998 – Signed as free agent by Carolina
- February 8, 2003 – Placed on waivers by Hurricanes
- June 16, 2004 – Traded by Hurricanes to Columbus Blue Jackets for future considerations
- December 5, 2005 – Signed as free agent by Salzburg