Grigorijs Pantelejevs
Encyclopedia
Grigorijs Panteļejevs. The 5th choice, 136th overall selection of the Boston Bruins
in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft
, Panteļejevs came to North America
and the NHL in 1992-93 after spending the past two seasons with Dynamo Riga.
Upon his arrival in North America, diminutive forward went on to split his first season with Boston
and their AHL
affiliate in Providence
before spending the majority of the next two seasons in Providence.
After three seasons in the Bruins
organization, Panteļejevs was released following the 1994-95 season only to be signed as a free agent by the New York Islanders
in September 1995.
Panteļejevs played only four games with the Islanders while playing the majority of the 1995-96 season with the IHL's
Utah Grizzlies
and Las Vegas Thunder
. In 1996-97 Panteļejevs joined the IHL's San Antonio Dragons
and went on to play a little over one season with the team before being dealt to the Orlando Solar Bears early into the 1997-98 IHL season.
The Gastello, USSR native returned to Orlando
the following year before heading overseas in 99-2000 as a member of the Hannover Scorpions
of the Bundesliga/Deutsche Eishockey Liga and went on to represent Latvia
in the 2000 World Championships
. After only one season in Germany
, jumped to the Swiss League then to the Swedish Elite League before landing in Finland
in 2002-03. In the midst those three seasons, the diminutive forward went on to represent Latvia two more times at the World Championships, once in 2001 and again in 2003.
Although he didn't play competitive hockey during the 2003-04 season, Panteļejevs made himself available for the 2004 World Championships
held in Prague
, Czech Republic
and did the same in 2005.
He has played in 9 World championships and 2006 Olympics for Latvian national team
.
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft
1992 NHL Entry Draft
The 1992 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 20 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. A total of 264 players were drafted.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:...
, Panteļejevs came to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and the NHL in 1992-93 after spending the past two seasons with Dynamo Riga.
Upon his arrival in North America, diminutive forward went on to split his first season with Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and their 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...
affiliate in Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
before spending the majority of the next two seasons in Providence.
After three seasons in the Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
organization, Panteļejevs was released following the 1994-95 season only to be signed as a free agent by the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in September 1995.
Panteļejevs played only four games with the Islanders while playing the majority of the 1995-96 season with the IHL's
IHL
IHL could refer to:* International Hockey League, the name of several different defunct hockey leagues:* International Professional Hockey League , central-eastern North America...
Utah Grizzlies
Utah Grizzlies
The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :...
and Las Vegas Thunder
Las Vegas Thunder
The Las Vegas Thunder were an independent professional ice hockey team competing in the International Hockey League. The team's home rink was at the Thomas & Mack Center. They began play in the 1993–1994 season, folding on April 18, 1999...
. In 1996-97 Panteļejevs joined the IHL's San Antonio Dragons
San Antonio Dragons
The San Antonio Dragons were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League for two seasons in 1996–97 and 1997–98. The Dragons were based in San Antonio, Texas and played at the Freeman Coliseum and occasionally the Alamodome....
and went on to play a little over one season with the team before being dealt to the Orlando Solar Bears early into the 1997-98 IHL season.
The Gastello, USSR native returned to Orlando
Orlando
Orlando is a major city in the U.S. state of Florida.Orlando may also refer to-Places:* in Florida** Orlando, a major city** Greater Orlando, the 27th-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
the following year before heading overseas in 99-2000 as a member of the Hannover Scorpions
Hannover Scorpions
The Hannover Scorpions are a professional ice hockey team founded in 1975 as ESC Wedemark. The team was renamed Wedemark Scorpions in 1996 after the rock band Scorpions, who also call Hanover, Lower Saxony their home. Their games are played at TUI Arena of the Expo Plaza...
of the Bundesliga/Deutsche Eishockey Liga and went on to represent 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...
in the 2000 World Championships
2000 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
-World Championship Group A :Final standings# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # — relegated to Division I for 2001# -World Championship Group B :...
. After only one season in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, jumped to the Swiss League then to the Swedish Elite League before landing in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in 2002-03. In the midst those three seasons, the diminutive forward went on to represent Latvia two more times at the World Championships, once in 2001 and again in 2003.
Although he didn't play competitive hockey during the 2003-04 season, Panteļejevs made himself available for the 2004 World Championships
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...
held in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and did the same in 2005.
He has played in 9 World championships and 2006 Olympics for Latvian national team
Latvian national ice hockey team
The Latvian men's national ice hockey team is currently ranked 12th in the world by IIHF as of 2011. The team is controlled by the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation. Its current head coach is Ted Nolan. Their best finishes ever at the World Championships were in 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2009 where they...
.