Kristaps Sotnieks
Encyclopedia
Kristaps Sotnieks is a Latvia
n professional ice-hockey player. He currently plays for Dinamo Rīga
.
which played in the Latvian hockey league
, however he also played 5 matches in the main team of Riga 2000 in Belarusian Extraliga
. Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout the squad of Riga 2000 was quite impressive that year, including NHLers Kārlis Skrastiņš
, Sergejs Žoltoks and Darby Hendrickson
, thus it was especially tough for youngsters like Sotnieks to get through on the main team. In 2005 Sotnieks played in five matches for Latvia at the U18 World Championships.
The next season Sotnieks was already a regular player in the main team of Riga 2000 which won bronze medals in the Belarusian Extraliga. In 42 matches he scored one goal, gave 4 assists and got 10 penalty minutes. In 2006 Sotnieks represented Latvia at the 2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
in Canada
, earning 2 points for assists as Latvia was relegated to Division I.
The next two years Riga 2000 played only in the Latvian hockey league
with Sotnieks as one of the most reliable defenders on the team. In 2005, 2006 and 2007 as a member of Riga 2000 Sotnieks won Latvian league titles.
When Dinamo Riga
was formed in 2008 Sotnieks wasn't among the players who were expected to be playing regularly for the side which included former NHLers like Duvie Westcott
and Filip Novák
, as well as a whole selection of players who had played for Latvia national ice hockey team at several world championships - Atvars Tribuncovs
, Rodrigo Laviņš
, Guntis Galviņš
, Krišjānis Rēdlihs
, Oļegs Sorokins
and Agris Saviels
. Thus Sotnieks was expected to be a leading defender for HK Riga 2000
(the farm club of Dinamo) playing in the Belarusian league. However, Sotnieks became a regular for Dinamo. As of 17 February 2009, he has played 43 matches for Dinamo in the KHL, scoring two goals.
In February 2009 Sotnieks played for Latvia national ice hockey team in the Qualification to 2010 Winter Olympics
, scoring two assists in three games and earning Latvia a qualification spot at the Olympics.
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...
n professional ice-hockey player. He currently plays for Dinamo Rīga
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:...
.
Career
In his first season in senior hockey in 2004/05 Sotnieks mostly played for the reserves squad of HK Riga 2000HK 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...
which played in the Latvian hockey league
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 ....
, however he also played 5 matches in the main team of Riga 2000 in Belarusian Extraliga
Belarusian Extraliga
The Belarusian Extraleague , officially formed in 2006, is the top ice hockey league in Belarus...
. Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout the squad of Riga 2000 was quite impressive that year, including NHLers Kārlis Skrastiņš
Karlis Skrastinš
Kārlis Skrastiņš was a Latvian professional ice hockey player. Skrastins was a member of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League and was on board the team plane which crashed on September 7, 2011...
, Sergejs Žoltoks and Darby Hendrickson
Darby Hendrickson
Darby Joseph Hendrickson is a retired American professional ice hockey center. He played in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche, and is currently an assistant coach with the Wild.-Playing career:He was drafted in...
, thus it was especially tough for youngsters like Sotnieks to get through on the main team. In 2005 Sotnieks played in five matches for Latvia at the U18 World Championships.
The next season Sotnieks was already a regular player in the main team of Riga 2000 which won bronze medals in the Belarusian Extraliga. In 42 matches he scored one goal, gave 4 assists and got 10 penalty minutes. In 2006 Sotnieks represented Latvia at the 2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships were held in Vancouver, Kelowna, and Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. The championships began on December 26, 2005, and finished on January 5, 2006. Games were played at GM Place and the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, the Interior Savings Centre in...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, earning 2 points for assists as Latvia was relegated to Division I.
The next two years Riga 2000 played only in the Latvian hockey league
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 ....
with Sotnieks as one of the most reliable defenders on the team. In 2005, 2006 and 2007 as a member of Riga 2000 Sotnieks won Latvian league titles.
When 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:...
was formed in 2008 Sotnieks wasn't among the players who were expected to be playing regularly for the side which included former NHLers like Duvie Westcott
Duvie Westcott
Duvie Westcott is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Kloten Flyers of the Swiss NLA. Westcott played his whole National Hockey League career with the Columbus Blue Jackets before signing with Dinamo Riga of the KHL.-Playing career:Westcott was signed by Columbus as...
and Filip Novák
Filip Novak
Filip Novák is a Czech professional ice hockey player. Novak currently plays for UHC Dynamo in the Kontinental Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, as well as a whole selection of players who had played for Latvia national ice hockey team at several world championships - Atvars Tribuncovs
Atvars Tribuncovs
Atvars Tribuncovs , is a professional ice hockey player. He was last a defenceman for Skellefteå AIK in the Elitserien.-External links:*...
, Rodrigo Laviņš
Rodrigo Lavinš
Rodrigo Laviņš is a Latvian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League.-Playing career:Laviņš began his career with his hometown team HK Pardaugava Riga...
, Guntis Galviņš
Guntis Galvinš
Guntis Galviņš is a Latvian professional ice-hockey player, who currently plays for Dinamo Rīga in the Kontinental Hockey League. He has played for the Latvian national team....
, Krišjānis Rēdlihs
Krisjanis Redlihs
Krišjānis Rēdlihs is a Latvian ice hockey player who currently plays as defenceman for Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Oļegs Sorokins
Olegs Sorokins
Olegs Sorokins is a Latvian professional ice hockey defender. He played in HK Ozolnieki/Monarhs team in Latvian Hockey League in 2008,before joining Dinamo Riga of KHL for two seasons.-International play:...
and Agris Saviels
Agris Saviels
Agris Saviels is an Latvian professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for Italian Serie A club HC Valpellice.-Playing career:...
. Thus Sotnieks was expected to be a leading defender for 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...
(the farm club of Dinamo) playing in the Belarusian league. However, Sotnieks became a regular for Dinamo. As of 17 February 2009, he has played 43 matches for Dinamo in the KHL, scoring two goals.
In February 2009 Sotnieks played for Latvia national ice hockey team in the Qualification to 2010 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics - Men's qualification
Qualification for the men's tournament at the 2010 Winter Olympics.-Qualification:Twelve teams qualified for the Ice Hockey event. The top nine teams in the IIHF World Ranking after the 2008 Men's World Ice Hockey Championship received automatic berths into the Ice Hockey event. All remaining...
, scoring two assists in three games and earning Latvia a qualification spot at the Olympics.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | 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 | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 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... |
BLR | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | HK Riga 2000 | LHL | 21 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2005–06 | HK Riga 2000 | BLR | 42 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | HK Riga 2000 | LHL | — | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | HK Riga 2000 | LHL | 45 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | HK Riga 2000 | LHL | 48 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | 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:... |
KHL Kontinental Hockey League The Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe.... |
46 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 | Dinamo Riga | KHL | 48 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 2010–11 | Dinamo Riga | KHL | 45 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| KHL Totals | 139 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 74 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | ||||
International statistics
| Year | Team | League | GP | G | A | P | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 2009 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships The 2009 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was the 73rd such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 46 countries participated in four levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for the 2010 competition... |
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... |
WC | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 2010 Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics was held at Canada Hockey Place, home of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks, and at UBC Winter Sports Centre, home of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport's UBC Thunderbirds. Twelve teams competed in the men's event and eight teams competed in the... |
Latvia | OG | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 2010 2010 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships The 2010 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was the 74th such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 48 countries participated in four levels of competition... |
Latvia | WC | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 2011 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships The 2011 IIHF World Championship was the 75th IIHF World Championship, an annual international ice hockey tournament. It took place between the 29 April and the 15 May 2011 in Slovakia. The games were played in the Orange Arena in Bratislava, and the Steel Aréna in Košice... |
Latvia | WC | 6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| WC totals | 19 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||
| Olympic Totals | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| Latvia Totals | 114 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 129 | ||