Additional Information
National LeagueKontinental Hockey League [KHL] (khl.ru, 13 Jan 2014)
Start of sporting careerHe began playing ice hockey as a young boy. (allhockey.ru, 29 May 2012)
Reason for taking up this sportHis mother forced him to do figure skating as a child, but he eventually persuaded her to let him play ice hockey instead. (allhockey.ru, 29 May 2012)
Most memorable sporting achievementWinning the 1996 Stanley Cup with Colorado Avalanche. (eurolanche.com, 26 Nov 2012)
Most influential person in careerRussian ice hockey coach Vasily Tikhonov. (Mighty Ducks, 21 Apr 2005)
AwardsHe was Latvia's flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (ONS, 07 Feb 2014)
He has played in the KHL All-Star game four times [2010, 2011, 2012, 2014]. (eliteprospects.com, 05 Aug 2013)
He was named in the Spengler Cup [Switzerland] All-Star team in season 2011/12. (eliteprospects.com, 05 Aug 2013)
He was named in the KHL First All-Star team in 2010/11. (eliteprospects.com, 05 Aug 2013)
He played in the National Hockey League [NHL] All-Star game seven times [1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003]. (nhl.com, 06 Apr 2008)
He was named in the NHL First All-Star team in 1997. (nhl.com, 06 Apr 2008)
GeneralOUT OF RETIREMENT FOR SOCHI
He retired from international ice hockey after the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, but he returned in 2013 to help the Latvia team to qualify for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. (olympictalk.nbcsports.com, 07 Jan 2014)
BUSINESS OWNER
He owns Ozo Golf Club in Riga, Latvia, which was the first 18-hole golf course in the country. The course gets its name from one of his nicknames, Ozo. He is also the owner of SIA Sports Projects in Latvia. (puaro.lv, 29 Jun 2013; ozogolf.lv, 11 Apr 2013)
NATIONAL COACHING ROLE
He was team manager of Latvia in 2010/11. (eliteprospects.com, 05 Aug 2013)
VOLUNTARY ABSENCE
After injuring his knee in December 2005, he voluntarily entered the NHL's substance abuse programme following a drink driving arrest. He missed 19 matches, but was cleared to return in time to play for Latvia at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin. (tsn.ca, 01 Nov 2007; sports.espn.go.com, 03 May 2006)
NATIONAL TEAMS
Before Latvia became an independent country, he represented both Soviet Union and Commonwealth of Independent States [CIS] at the World Junior Championships. (eliteprospects.com, 05 Aug 2013)
NHL DRAFT
He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the second round, 30th pick overall, in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. (nhl.com, 06 Apr 2008)
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