Ralfs Freibergs

Ralfs Freibergs
Born (1991-05-17) 17 May 1991 (age 33)
Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
ELH team
Former teams		 HC Litvínov
HK Prizma Riga
Dinamo Juniors Riga
Dinamo Riga
PSG Berani Zlín
HC Kometa Brno
HC Oceláři Třinec
Iserlohn Roosters
National team  Latvia
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2013–present

Ralfs Freibergs (born 17 May 1991) is a Latvian professional ice hockey defenceman for HC Litvínov of the Czech Extraliga (ELH).

Playing career

After first playing professionally in his native Latvia, Freibergs moved to North America as a junior and played college ice hockey for Bowling Green State University.

On 8 August 2014, Freibergs signed his first North American professional contract in agreeing to a one-year American Hockey League deal with the St. John's IceCaps.[1] Freibergs appeared in 5 games with the IceCaps. However, he was reassigned to ECHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign for the majority of the campaign.

Leading into the 2015–16 season, Freibergs accepted an invitation to the Grand Rapids Griffins training camp on 28 September 2015. He was reassigned and signed an ECHL contract with affiliate Toledo Walleye on 6 October 2015.

On 15 July 2016, Freibergs returned to his native Latvia as a free agent from North America, signing a contract with Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).[2]

International play

Medal record
Representing  Latvia
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Finland/Latvia

Freibergs competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics, being the only active college player to compete in the men's tournament. His first appearance was in the third game when he logged 4:56 of ice time.[3] Freibergs also competed in the elimination round games against Switzerland and Canada.[4][5]

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on 25 April 2014, that Freibergs was excluded from the 2014 Winter Olympics after failing doping test.[6]

He represented Latvia at the 2023 IIHF World Championship where he recorded one goal and three assists and won a bronze medal, Latvia's first ever IIHF World Championship medal.[7]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2006–07 Prizma/Rīga 86 LAT U18 1 4 5 16 — — — — —
2007–08 Prizma/Rīga 86 LAT U18 22 4 11 15 40 — — — — —
2008–09 HS Rīga/Prizma–Hanza LAT 23 1 7 8 24 — — — — —
2009–10 Texas Tornado NAHL 26 1 17 18 36 5 0 2 2 4
2010–11 Texas Tornado NAHL 53 7 48 55 45 4 0 3 3 8
2011–12 Lincoln Stars USHL 60 8 35 43 40 8 0 2 2 6
2012–13 Bowling Green State University CCHA 8 1 6 7 4 — — — — —
2013–14 Bowling Green State University WCHA 37 3 19 22 51 — — — — —
2014–15 St. John's IceCaps AHL 5 0 2 2 2 — — — — —
2014–15 Ontario Reign ECHL 52 3 14 17 16 6 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Toledo Walleye ECHL 61 2 27 29 61 — — — — —
2016–17 Dinamo Rīga KHL 38 1 5 6 30 — — — — —
2017–18 Aukro Berani Zlína ELH 52 3 23 26 42 4 0 4 4 6
2018–19 PSG Berani Zlín ELH 52 5 19 24 38 5 1 0 1 8
2019–20 PSG Berani Zlín ELH 52 3 20 23 32 2 0 0 0 0
2020–21 HC Kometa Brno ELH 29 2 6 8 12 — — — — —
2020–21 HC Oceláři Třinec ELH 15 0 6 6 6 16 3 6 9 2
2021–22 Dinamo Rīga KHL 34 0 2 2 37 — — — — —
2021–22 Iserlohn Roosters DEL 10 0 2 2 0 — — — — —
ECHL totals 113 5 41 46 77 6 0 0 0 0
ELH totals 200 13 74 87 130 27 4 10 14 16

International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2008 Latvia U18 D1 5 0 1 1 0
2009 Latvia WJC 6 1 1 2 10
2009 Latvia U18 D1 5 0 1 1 8
2010 Latvia WJC 6 0 3 3 12
2011 Latvia WJC D1 5 1 2 3 6
2013 Latvia WC 7 0 1 1 4
2014 Latvia OG 5 0 1 1 0
2016 Latvia WC 6 0 0 0 6
2016 Latvia OGQ 3 0 0 0 0
2017 Latvia WC 7 0 0 0 0
2018 Latvia WC 8 0 1 1 2
2019 Latvia WC 6 0 3 3 27
2021 Latvia WC 7 0 3 3 0
2021 Latvia OGQ 3 0 0 0 2
2022 Latvia OG 4 0 0 0 2
2023 Latvia WC 10 1 3 4 8
Junior totals 27 2 8 10 36
Senior totals 66 1 12 13 51

References

  1. ^ "IceCaps re-sign Fredheim, sign Freibergs". St. John's IceCaps. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  2. ^ "Riga add players to squad". sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 15 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Bowling Green impacts thrilling day at Sochi". Bowling Green Falcons. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Latvia take on Switzerland" (PDF). IIHF. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Canada defeat courageous Latvia" (PDF). IIHF. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  6. ^ "IOC sanctions Latvian Ice Hockey Player Ralfs Freibergs for failing anti-doping test at Sochi 2014". olympics.com. 25 April 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Latvia wins historic bronze in OT". IIHF. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.


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