Artūrs Irbe

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Artūrs Irbe
Ice Hockey goalkeeper Irbe of EC Red Bull Salzburg.jpg
Irbe with the EC Red Bull Salzburg in 2005-06 season
Born (1967-02-02) February 2, 1967 (age 57)
Riga, Latvian SSR,
Soviet Union
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Soviet III
Latvijas Berzs Riga
ShVSM Riga
Soviet
Dynamo Riga
IHL
Kansas City Blades
NHL
San Jose Sharks
Dallas Stars
Vancouver Canucks
Carolina Hurricanes
AHL
Lowell Lock Monsters
ECHL
Johnstown Chiefs
Belarus Extraliga
HK Riga 2000
EBHL
EC Red Bull Salzburg
Latvia
SK Rīga 20
Slovak Extraliga
Hk Dynamax Oil Nitra
National team  Soviet Union 
 Latvia
NHL Draft 196th overall, 1989
Minnesota North Stars
Playing career 1986–2008
Artūrs Irbe
Medal record
Representing Soviet Union Soviet Union
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1989 Sweden Ice hockey
Gold medal – first place 1990 Switzerland Ice hockey

Artūrs Irbe (born February 2, 1967) is a Latvian professional ice hockey coach and former goaltender. Born during the Soviet era, Irbe played for various Soviet league teams and the Soviet Union national team before moving to North America in 1991. Irbe played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks and Carolina Hurricanes. In 2004 Irbe returned to Europe to play until he retired in 2007. He later returned to the NHL as goaltending coach for the Washington Capitals during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. Irbe left the team on June 11, 2011 to spend more time with his family.

In 2014, Irbe joined the coaching staff of the Buffalo Sabres. Irbe had previously worked with Sabres coach Ted Nolan when the latter was coach of the Latvia men's national ice hockey team [1] On November 18, 2014 at the age of 47, he suited up after the injury of Michal Neuvirth, to be the backup of Jhonas Enroth.[2]

Playing career

Irbe was drafted in the 10th round, 196th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.

His first professional hockey team was Dinamo Riga of the Soviet Hockey League (from 1987 to 1991). After playing in only 2 games during the 1986–1987 season Irbe got a chance to become Dinamo Riga's number one goaltender during the 1987–1988 season when their starting goaltender and Olympic champion, Vitali Samoilov went down with a long term injury. In his only full professional season, Irbe was outstanding in helping Dinamo Riga make it to the finals of the Soviet Hockey League where they eventually lost to perennial Soviet champions CSKA Moscow. During this period he also played for the Soviet Union in the World Championships in 1989 and 1990. The Soviet team won those two championships and Irbe was honoured as the best goalkeeper of the 1990 tournament. He refused to play for the Soviet Union in 1991 because Latvia had proclaimed independence from the Soviet Union on May 4, 1990 and the Soviet government attempted to use military force in January 1991 to stop Latvia's independence. When the Moscow government sent tanks rolling to Riga, Irbe was among those who took to the streets and put up barriers to protect buildings, radio stations, TV towers and historical landmarks.[3]

In the 1988–89 season, Irbe travelled to North America with his then club Dinamo Riga to play in a series of exhibition games against NHL teams. The next season (1989–90) he was temporarily added to the CSKA Moscow team during an exhibition tour of North America.

NHL

His NHL career began in 1991. His first NHL team was the San Jose Sharks, he played with them from 1991–92 to 1995–96. With Irbe between the pipes, the newly established Sharks made their first playoff appearance in the 1993–94 season and upset the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings. That season, Irbe played an NHL record 4412 minutes between the pipes for the Sharks. Irbe, affectionately known as Archie, was nicknamed "The Wall" and became a cult figure in San Jose, a status he enjoys there to this day. Following an injury (his hand being mauled by his pet dog in the offseason) and a poor 1995–96 season, Irbe was released by the Sharks.

For the next two years, he was a backup goaltender for the Dallas Stars and the Vancouver Canucks (for whom he played significant stretches with ample success) until he became the starter for the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1998–99 season. Irbe was picked to be a member of the "World" NHL All-Star team in 1998–1999 season, where he became the first goalie to record an assist in an NHL All-Star game. The highest point of his career with the Hurricanes was 2001–02 when Irbe was instrumental in leading the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup finals where they fell to the Detroit Red Wings.

Demotion to ECHL

After a disappointing 2002-03 season, the Hurricanes looked to demote Irbe because they could not move him because of a no-trade clause in his contract. On October 16, 2003, Irbe was assigned to the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL.[4] After going 8-2-1 in 11 games with the Chiefs, Irbe was named as the starter for the Eastern Conference in the 2004 ECHL All-Star Game.[5] However, Irbe was unable to participate due to a wrist injury. On March 19, 2003, Irbe was recalled to the Carolina Hurricanes after goalie Kevin Weekes was placed on the IR due to season-ending hand surgery.[6]

Return to NHL

In June 2004, he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, but never played with the club due to that year's NHL Lockout. After the lockout that canceled the 2004–2005 season, Irbe never played in the NHL again but chose to continue his career in Europe.

Return to Europe

He played for HK Riga 2000 in Latvia and EC Red Bulls Salzburg in Austria during the 2004-05 season. He signed with HK Dynamax Nitra playing in the Slovak Ice Hockey Extraliga, but he decided to leave after his unsatisfactory results.

Equipment

He is notable on the ice for his helmet and padding - he has worn them almost continuously since his NHL debut for the Sharks - which are creased and scuffed with puck marks and stains. He has earned the nickname "Michelin Man" as a result.

In the early 2000s, he placed an ad in the Ottawa Pennysaver seeking any local resident with the famed "Jofa" Goalie mask.

Coaching career

In 2008, Irbe signed a three-year deal with Dinamo Riga and worked as the goaltending coach for the club.[7] In August 2009, Irbe cut ties with Riga and decided to go back to North America to be the goaltending coach of the NHL Washington Capitals after former goaltending coach Dave Prior stepped down due to family reasons.[8]

In 2013, Irbe was named as Ted Nolan's assistant for Latvian national team,[9] but resigned a year after a dispute with president of Latvian Ice Hockey Federation Kirovs Lipmans over his coaching certification.[10] In August 2014, Nolan again hired Irbe as an assistant, this time with the Buffalo Sabres.[11]

Personal

Irbe is also a member of board of directors of the Kids First Fund, a non-profit organization based in the United States which raises money for projects assisting abused and abandoned children in Latvia.[12]

At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Irbe was Latvia's flag-bearer in the opening ceremonies.[13]

Career statistics

Bolded numbers indicate season leader

Regular season

Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SV SO GAA SV%
1983–84 Latvijas Berzs Riga Soviet III — — — — — — — — — —
1984–85 Latvijas Berzs Riga Soviet III — — — — — — — — — —
1985–86 ShVSM Riga Soviet III 9 — — — — 20 — — — —
1986–87 ShVSM Riga Soviet III 47 — — — 2,643 134 — — 3.04 —
1986–87 Dinamo Riga Soviet 2 — — — 27 1 — 0 2.22 —
1987–88 Dinamo Riga Soviet 34 — — — 1,870 86 — 4 2.76 —
1987–88 ShVSM Riga Soviet III 5 — — — — 11 — — 3.31 —
1988–89 Dinamo Riga Soviet 40 — — — 2,460 116 — 4 2.83 —
1989–90 Dinamo Riga Soviet 48 — — — 2,880 115 — 2 2.40 —
1990–91 Dinamo Riga Soviet 46 — — — 2,713 133 — 5 2.94 —
1991–92 Kansas City Blades IHL 32 24 7 1 1,955 80 — 0 2.46 .911
1991–92 San Jose Sharks NHL 13 2 6 3 645 48 — 0 4.47 .868
1992–93 Kansas City Blades IHL 6 3 3 0 364 20 — 0 3.30 .876
1992–93 San Jose Sharks NHL 36 7 26 0 2,074 142 365 1 4.11 .886
1993–94 San Jose Sharks NHL 74 30 28 16 4,412 209 1,250 3 2.84 .899
1994–95 San Jose Sharks NHL 38 14 19 3 2,043 111 2,064 4 3.26 .895
1995–96 Kansas City Blades IHL 4 1 2 1 226 16 1,056 0 4.24 .843
1995–96 San Jose Sharks NHL 22 4 12 4 1,112 85 607 0 4.59 .860
1996–97 Dallas Stars NHL 35 17 12 3 1,965 88 825 3 2.69 .893
1997–98 Vancouver Canucks NHL 41 14 11 6 1,999 91 982 2 2.73 .907
1998–99 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 62 27 20 12 3,643 135 1,753 6 2.22 .923
1999–2000 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 75 34 28 9 4,345 175 1,858 5 2.42 .906
2000–01 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 77 37 29 9 4,406 180 1,947 6 2.45 .908
2001–02 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 51 20 19 11 2,974 126 1,282 3 2.54 .902
2002–03 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 7 3 3 1 427 21 229 0 2.95 .908
2002–03 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 34 7 24 2 1,884 100 816 0 3.18 .877
2003–04 Johnstown Chiefs ECHL 14 10 3 1 847 30 411 1 2.13 .927
2003–04 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 10 5 2 1 564 23 228 0 2.45 .899
2004–05 HK Riga 2000 BXL 29 — — — — — — — 2.04 —
2005–06 HK Riga 2000 BXL 18 — — — — — — — 1.95 —
2005–06 EC Red Bull Salzburg EBHL 17 9 6 1 1,012 35 — 0 2.08 .914
2006–07 SK Riga 20 Latvia 4 0 4 0 240 21 — 0 5.25 —
2006–07 HK Ardo Nitra SVK 6 1 2 3 249 22 — 0 5.31 .814
Soviet totals 173 — — — 9,859 451 — 15 2.74 —
NHL totals 568 218 236 79 32,066 1,513 15,033 33 2.83 .899

Playoffs

Season Team League GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1991–92 Kansas City Blades IHL 15 12 3 914 44 0 2.89 —
1993–94 San Jose Sharks NHL 14 7 7 806 50 0 3.72 .875
1994–95 San Jose Sharks NHL 6 2 4 369 32 0 5.20 .848
1996–97 Dallas Stars NHL 1 0 0 12 0 0 0.00 1.000
1998–99 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 6 2 4 408 15 0 2.21 .917
2000–01 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 6 2 4 360 20 0 3.34 .900
2001–02 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 18 10 8 1,078 30 1 1.67 .938
2005–06 EC Red Bull Salzburg EBHL 11 — — — — — 2.53 .897
NHL totals 51 23 27 2,981 142 1 2.86 .902

International

Bolded numbers indicate tournament leader

Year Team Event   GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1985 Soviet Union EJC 5 — — — 300 5 — 1.00 —
1989 Soviet Union WC 3 — — — 175 5 0 1.71 —
1990 Soviet Union WC 6 4 0 1 315 5 1 0.95 .950
1996 Latvia WC-B 4 3 0 1 240 7 0 1.75 —
1997 Latvia WC 5 4 0 1 300 10 1 2.00 —
1998 Latvia WC 6 3 2 1 358 17 1 2.85 —
1999 Latvia WC 4 2 2 0 238 12 0 3.02 .860
2000 Latvia WC 5 3 1 1 420 17 0 2.43 .907
2001 Latvia WC 6 3 2 1 360 13 2 2.17 .924
2002 Latvia Oly 1 0 1 0 60 4 0 4.00 .862
2003 Latvia WC 3 2 1 0 180 9 0 3.00 .901
2004 Latvia WC 5 2 1 2 300 9 0 1.80 .925
2005 Latvia WC 6 2 3 1 283 7 2 1.48 .944
2006 Latvia Oly 3 0 2 1 148 14 0 5.68 .833
Senior totals 53 — — — 3137 122 7 2.33 —

Super Series statistics

The Super Series were exhibition games between an NHL team and Soviet teams (usually a club from the Soviet Championship League). Irbe competed in two such series.

Year Team Event GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA
1988–89 Dynamo Riga Super-S 7 2 4 1 425 23 0 3.25
1990 CSKA Moscow Super-S 4 3 1 0 300 18 1 2.50
Super Series totals 11 5 5 1 725 41 1 2.88

Awards

International

Award Year
EJC Best Goaltender 1985 [14]
WC Best Goaltender 1990 [14]
IIHF Hall of Fame 2009 [15]

Soviet

Award Year
Rookie of the Year 1988

IHL

Award Year(s) awarded
Turner Cup 1992
IHL First All-Star Team 1992
James Norris Memorial Trophy (IHL) 1992 (Shared with Wade Flaherty)

NHL

Award Year
NHL All-Star Game 1994, 1999

San Jose Sharks

Award Year
Player of the Year 1994 [16]

ECHL

Award Year(s) awarded
ECHL All-Star Game 2004 (DNP, wrist injury)

San Jose

Award Year
San Jose Sports Hall of Fame 2010 [17]

Transactions

  • June 17, 1989 – Drafted by Minnesota in the 10th round, 196th overall
  • May 30, 1991 – San Jose in National Hockey League dispersal draft
  • July 22, 1996 – Signed as free agent by Dallas
  • August 5, 1997 – Signed as free agent by Vancouver
  • September 10, 1998 – Signed as free agent by Carolina
  • February 8, 2003 – Placed on waivers by Hurricanes
  • June 16, 2004 – Traded by Hurricanes to Columbus Blue Jackets for future considerations
  • December 5, 2005 – Signed as free agent by Salzburg
  • November 18, 2014 - Signed as player-coach by Buffalo Sabres on an emergency backup contract[18]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Hoppe, Bill (November 19, 2014). Brian Gionta's first goals lead Sabres past Sharks. Olean Times Herald. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Sabres hire coaches and add to Murray's staff. WGR. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  12. ↑ Kids First Fund - Board of Directors
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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