Balcers Adds Two Assists in Zurich Win, Komuls Returns to Ice, Rimjans Scores Twice in Norway

Latvian hockey players competing abroad were in action. Forward Rudolfs Balcers was part of a victory in the Swiss championship, defenseman Markuss Komuls came back to a Swedish top-league game after a break, and forward Leonards Rimjans scored twice in Norway.

Balcers and Zurich

Zurich Lions came back from 1:3 down in the final period. Swedish forward Jesper Fredén tied the game 16 seconds before the end of regulation. He then also scored the winning attempt in the seventh round of the shootout. It was the team's 18th win in 19 rounds.

Rudolfs Balcers (17 games, 4 goals and 11 assists) missed his chance in the third shootout round. In 16 minutes he recorded two assists and five shots on target. The 29-year-old forward has had two points in three of his last four games.

Komuls in Sweden

In the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), defenseman Markuss Komuls (5 games, 0+1) played for the first time since September. His team, HV71 Jönköping, lost 2:4 to Luleå. The 28-year-old Latvian was on the ice for only 15 seconds. Jönköping has lost seven games in a row, has 11 points from 15 games and sits last.

Rimjans in Norway

In the Norwegian championship, Trondheim's Nidaros beat league leader Vålerenga of Oslo 4:0. Leonards Rimjans (14 games, 5+2), a product of Daugavpils and Liepāja hockey, scored the first and last goals. He took three shots in 15 minutes. Nidaros has 26 points from 14 rounds and is in the top four.