Latvian forward Fēlikss Gavars scores in Czech extraliga debut

Latvian hockey player Fēlikss Gavars made his Czech extraliga debut on Wednesday and marked the occasion with a goal. His club, Mladá Boleslav, won 3:2 in overtime away against Motor České Budějovice, the team of fellow Latvian Renārs Krastenbergs.

Gavars scored in the sixth minute of the third period, converting a power-play chance to level the score at 2:2. He spent 14 minutes and 25 seconds on the ice, took one shot on goal, and was on the ice for three of his team's eight goals, finishing the game with a neutral plus-minus rating.

Krastenbergs, playing for the home side, logged 20 minutes and 12 seconds of ice time, recorded an assist, three shots on goal, a hit and a blocked shot, but ended the match with a minus-1 rating.

Other Latvians in the Czech league

In a separate match, Ralfs Freibergs picked up an assist for Olomouc, which nevertheless lost 2:5 at home to Sparta Prague, whose roster includes fellow Latvian Mārtiņš Dzierkals.

In a head-to-head clash between two Latvian-featuring clubs, Kristiāns Rubīns' Plzeň Škoda beat Kristaps Zīle's Liberec Bílí Tygři 2:1 at home in a shootout. Meanwhile, Jānis Jaks' Litvínov Verva defeated Brno Kometa 2:1 at home.

Last season's Czech extraliga champion was Pardubice Dynamo.