Raitis Ivanāns

Raitis Ivanāns
Born January 3, 1979
Riga, Soviet Union
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 240 lb (110 kg; 17 st 2 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Left
Played for Montreal Canadiens
Los Angeles Kings
Calgary Flames
Dinamo Riga
National team  Latvia
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 19972013

Raitis Ivanāns (born January 3, 1979) is a Latvian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and was known primarily as an enforcer.

Playing career

Ivanans with the Los Angeles Kings

In 1997, Ivanāns came over to North America and played for the Flint Generals. In 2005, he made his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens, accumulating 9 penalty minutes in 4 games. He got into a fight in his second game, against the Ottawa Senators, with Zdeno Chára, and sustained a broken orbital bone due to a late punch after he was down.[1][2]

On July 13, 2006, he signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings. Ivanāns scored his first NHL goal against Marty Turco the Dallas Stars on October 12, 2006. On March 18, 2007, he signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings to a one-way contract.

On January 29, 2008, Ivanāns signed a two-year contract extension with the Kings.[3] In each of his four consecutive seasons in Los Angeles, Ivanāns led the team in penalty minutes.

On July 1, 2010, Raitis signed a two-year deal as a free agent with the Calgary Flames,[4] and made his Flames debut on October 7, 2010 in the 2010-11 season opening against Edmonton Oilers; however he suffered a debilitating concussion during a third period fight with Oilers' heavyweight Steve MacIntyre.[5]

On October 20, 2011, Ivanāns was sent to Abbotsford Heat by Calgary,[6] where he scored his first goal of the season on November 11 against Texas Stars.

On May 22, 2012, Raitis signed a two-year deal with Dinamo Rīga of the Kontinental Hockey League. In his debut season in the KHL in 2012-13 season, Ivanans whilst providing physicality, failed to establish a lasting role in 39 games with Riga, and was released prior to the second year of his contract.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1997–98 Flint Generals UHL 18 0 1 1 20
1998–99 Macon Whoopee CHL 16 1 1 2 20
1998–99 Tulsa Oilers CHL 32 2 7 9 39
1999–00 Pensacola Ice Pilots ECHL 59 3 7 10 146 2 0 0 0 0
2000–01 New Haven Knights UHL 66 4 10 14 270 8 1 0 1 4
2000–01 Hershey Bears AHL 2 0 0 0 0
2001–02 Toledo Storm ECHL 16 2 2 4 59
2001–02 Baton Rouge Kingfish ECHL 40 4 5 9 180
2002–03 Rockford IceHogs UHL 50 4 2 6 208
2002–03 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 17 0 0 0 38 1 0 0 0 15
2003–04 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 54 1 7 8 166 7 0 1 1 17
2004–05 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 75 2 5 7 259 2 0 1 1 0
2005–06 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 43 2 0 2 120
2005–06 Montreal Canadiens NHL 4 0 0 0 9
2006–07 Los Angeles Kings NHL 66 4 4 8 140
2007–08 Los Angeles Kings NHL 73 6 2 8 134
2008–09 Los Angeles Kings NHL 76 2 0 2 145
2009–10 Los Angeles Kings NHL 61 0 0 0 136 1 0 0 0 0
2010–11 Calgary Flames NHL 1 0 0 0 5
2011–12 Calgary Flames NHL 1 0 0 0 0
2011–12 Abbotsford Heat AHL 27 2 3 5 37
2012–13 Dinamo Riga KHL 39 0 1 1 84
NHL totals 282 12 6 18 569 1 0 0 0 0

International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1999 Latvia WJC-D1 6 0 1 1 6
2008 Latvia WC 6 0 0 0 31
Junior totals 6 0 1 1 6
Senior totals 6 0 0 0 31

References

  1. "Canadiens get Downey on waivers". sportingnews.com. 2006-01-23. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  2. "Showdown in the Nation's Capital". habsworld.com. 2005-10-27. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  3. "One enforcer traded, two others re-signed". foxsports.com. 2008-01-30. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
  4. "Flames add two more". Calgary Flames. 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
  5. "Oilers expect tougher time". Edmonton Sun. 2010-10-16. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  6. "Flames send tough guy Ivanans to AHL". TSN. 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2011-11-12.

External links