There is a solid Latvian influence for ice hockey in South Wales after Cardiff Fire signed Kristians Kasjavanos for 2019-20.
The teenager has committed to Fire, who play their first National League South One fixture of the season at Romford Raiders on Saturday.
Kasjavanos joins Cardiff Devils’ young forward Toms Rutkiss, a promising offensive player who is on a two-way contract with Swindon Wildcats.
Personally, I don’t remember many Latvian players coming to Cardiff, although Devils did bring in defenceman defenceman Martins Gipters during 2013-14.
Brent Pope was the Devils coach who signed former Latvian under-20 Gipters international , who only played 15 matches before heading home. That was in the days before Steve King and the Calgary ownership consortium took charge.
Riga-born Gipters, now aged 30 and competing for HK Kurbads in his home country, was playing for Beibarys Atyrau in Kazakhstan when he agreed to join Devils.
Fire have signed a player of genuine potential in Kasjavanos, who arrived in Cardiff earlier this summer to join Cardiff’s under-18 team and was invited to practice with the both Fire teams.
After impressing during those session Kristians has been offered a spot with Cardiff Fire.
Also, returning to the Fire line-up is London-born Chris Fox, who first joined Cardiff Fire last season and impressed with his workrate.
Fox, aged 27, has more than 10 years National League experience playing for playing for Slough, Harringey and Lee Valley with an English Premier League game for Slough Jets as a teenager.
Chris splits his time in Cardiff between hockey and working as a doctor.
“Kristians has been a real surprise,” said Fire coach Mark Cuddihy. “I was informed by Cardiff’s under-18 coach Andy Lloyd that he would be arriving and we asked him to skate with us.
“He has looked really good in practice and you can see he has a great hockey brain for such a young player. He was selected in the Fire two team last weekend for their 5-4 win against Bristol Pitbulls and impressed.
“I am excited to see him develop with Fire and the under-18’s.
“With Foxy we know we get 100 per cent workrate. Fire have a young team this season having someone in the room with Foxy’s experience with be incredible valuable.
“He work incredibly hard every shift and is someone we can really rely on every time he steps in the ice.”
🏒 SEPTEMEBER FIXTURES 🏒
No home games this weekend as the 🔥 take to the road for the first away games of the season!Catch us back on home ice next weekend for back-to-back games against the Devils 😈 pic.twitter.com/AZBevFPu6D
— Cardiff Fire (@CardiffFireIHC) September 13, 2019
Cardiff Fire – NIHL Two
Fire’s second team defeated Pitbulls 5-4 at the Viola Arena thanks to goals from Jordan Powell (2), Elliott Murdoch, Elis Sheppard and Lewis Stevens.Cardiff Fire – next five fixtures in National Ice Hockey League Wilkinson South Two
September
Sunday 15: Basingstoke v Cardiff Fire (6.15pm)
Sunday 22: Cardiff Fire v Solent Devils (2pm)
Sunday 29: Swindon Wildcats v Cardiff Fire (6.15pm)
October
Saturday 5: Bristol Pitbulls v Cardiff Fire (5pm)
Sunday 6: Cardiff Fire v Basingstoke Buffalo (6pm)
Welcome to Cardiff, Kris! 🇱🇻🏴#FireFamilyGrows pic.twitter.com/AOPYRXe4Xl
— Cardiff Fire (@CardiffFireIHC) September 13, 2019
Cardiff Fire South One signings:
Netminders: Lewis Davies, James Whiting, Ben Scanlon.
Skaters: Kristians Kasjavanos, Chris Fox, Martyn Gray, Deakan Fielder, Elis Sheppard, Carter Lloyd, Iwan Davies, Elliott Murdoch, Morgan Evans, Sam Bryant, Lewis Stevens, Cameron Basnett, Joe Morris, Tom Smith, Josh Haslam, Ben Smith.
Cardiff Fire fixtures 2019-20
NIHL Britton South One
September
Saturday 14 v Romford Raiders 2 (away)
Saturday 21 v Slough Jets (away)
Sunday 22 v Solent Devils (home)
Sunday 29 v Slough Jets (home)
October
Saturday 5 v Bracknell Hornets (away)
Saturday 12 v Streatham (away)
Saturday 19 v Solent Devils (away)
Sunday 20 v Bracknell Hornets (home)
Saturday 26 v Chelmsford Chieftains (home)
November
Sunday 3 v Milton Keynes Thunder (home)
Saturday 9 v Chelmsford Chieftains (away)
Sunday 10 v Bracknell Hornets (home)
Saturday 16 v Invicta Dynamos (home)
Sunday 24 v Milton Keynes Thunder (away)
Saturday 30 v Romford Raiders (home)
December
Saturday 7 v Streatham (home)
Sunday 8 v Oxford City Stars (away)
Saturday 14 v Invicta Dynamos (away)
Sunday 15 v Solent Devils (home)
January
Saturday 4 v Romford Raiders (away)
Saturday 11 v Romford Raiders (home)
Sunday 12 v Milton Keynes Thunder (away)
Saturday 18 v Streatham (away)
Sunday 19 v Oxford City Stars (home)
Saturday 25 v Invicta Dynamos (home)
Sunday 26 v Bracknell Hornets (away)
February
Saturday 1 v Slough Jets (away)
Saturday 8 v Chelmsford Chieftains (home)
Sunday 9 v Invicta Dynamos (away)
Saturday 15 v Chelmsford Chieftains (away)
Sunday 16 v Oxford City Stars (home)
Saturday 22 v Solent Devils (away)
March
Saturday 7 v Milton Keynes Thunder (home)
Sunday 8 v Oxford City Stars (away)
Saturday 21 v Streatham (home)
Sunday 29 v Slough Jets (home)