Latvian veterans Siksna and Kulds get on scoresheet as new season begins
Latvian hockey players abroad started their new seasons with strong results — Rihards Siksna helped his Kazakh club to two wins, while Artūrs Kulds scored the winning goal in Denmark.
Latvian hockey players delivered notable performances at the start of their clubs' new seasons abroad, in both Kazakhstan and Denmark.
Siksna contributes to Karaganda's wins
The 33-year-old defenceman Rihards Siksna, who plays for Karaganda's Saryarqa in the Kazakh championship, recorded two assists on Tuesday as his team beat Atyrau's Beibarys 5:0. The following day, the club won again, 3:2 in overtime, with Siksna scoring a power-play goal in the fifth minute to put his team ahead 1:0. Across the two games he registered three shots on goal, finishing with a plus-minus rating of -1.
Kulds scores the winner in Denmark
In the Danish league, Esbjerg Energy opened its season with a heavy 1:7 defeat on Friday to reigning champions Herning Blue Fox, whose roster includes a Latvian player. Esbjerg bounced back in their next match, winning 2:0 against Herlev Eagles. In that game, 38-year-old forward Artūrs Kulds scored what proved to be the winning goal seven minutes before the end of regulation time.
Esbjerg's squad also features two other Latvian players — forward Edvards Bergmanis and defenceman Elvis Laškovs, both considerably younger than their veteran teammate.
