Lauris Dārziņš
Latvian winger who played in the KHL and internationally.
Lauris Dārziņš is a Latvian former professional ice hockey winger. He was born on January 28, 1985.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 28 January 1985
- Birthplace
- Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
- Position
- Winger
- Shoots
- Right
- Played for
- Ilves
- HC Vsetín
- HC Třinec
- HK Gomel
- Dinamo Riga
- Ak Bars Kazan
- Traktor Chelyabinsk
- Draft
- 268th overall
- Drafted by
- Nashville Predators
Facts from the source article.
Playing career
Dārziņš was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 2003 NHL entry draft from the Finnish junior system of Lukko Rauma. He then played in the WHL for the Kelowna Rockets, who were the reigning Memorial Cup champions, alongside fellow Predators prospect Shea Weber. Over two seasons with the Rockets, Dārziņš recorded 32 goals and 67 points in 90 games and helped the team win the Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2005, though they did not repeat as Memorial Cup champions. After going unsigned by the Predators, he returned to Finland in 2006 with Ilves of the SM-liiga, but after only thirteen games he moved to HC Vsetín of the Czech Extraliga, where he also played thirteen games and scored three goals. In the summer of 2007, Dārziņš signed with HC Třinec but played just one game before joining HK Gomel of the Belarusian Extraleague. There he had a strong 2007–08 season, leading the team with seventeen goals and 34 points in 32 games. On May 27, 2008, he signed with Russian club HC MVD of the re-branded Russian SuperLeague, but never played for them and instead joined the resurrected Dinamo Riga for its inaugural campaign. In 56 games he scored eight goals and seventeen points, and the team reached the playoffs but was swept in the first round by Dynamo Moscow. In 2009–10, Dārziņš had a breakout season with Riga, scoring fourteen goals (third-most on the team) and 31 points in 54 games. Riga upset top-seeded SKA Saint Petersburg in the first round of the playoffs before falling to MVD in the second round; Dārziņš had two goals and four points in nine playoff games. After his contract expired in spring 2010, he was briefly linked with Ak Bars Kazan and also had contact with Nashville Predators scouts about a possible return to North America.
International play
Dārziņš has been a regular for the Latvian national team since 2002. He debuted at the Division I IIHF World U18 Championship at age 17, scoring two goals and three points in five games, and returned the following year with one goal and two points. He played in three Division I IIHF World U20 Championships, totaling 12 goals and 24 points in 15 games. He made his full national team debut at the 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships in Riga and has played in every tournament since, with nine goals and twelve points in 23 games over four tournaments. At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver he recorded one assist in four games, and at the 2014 Winter Olympics he was Latvia's leading scorer with four goals and one assist in five games.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Lauris Dārziņš born?
Lauris Dārziņš was born on 28 January 1985 in Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union.
Which teams did Lauris Dārziņš play for?
Lauris Dārziņš played for Ilves, HC Vsetín, HC Třinec, HK Gomel, Dinamo Riga, Ak Bars Kazan and Traktor Chelyabinsk.
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