Ralfs Freibergs

Medal record
Representing Latvia
Ice hockey
World Championships

Ralfs Freibergs
Ralfs Freibergs
Born	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

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

^ "IceCaps re-sign Fredheim, sign Freibergs". St. John's IceCaps. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
^ "Riga add players to squad". sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 15 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
^ "Bowling Green impacts thrilling day at Sochi". Bowling Green Falcons. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
^ "Latvia take on Switzerland" (PDF). IIHF. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
^ "Canada defeat courageous Latvia" (PDF). IIHF. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
^ "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.
^ "Latvia wins historic bronze in OT". IIHF. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.

External links

Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
Ralfs Freibergs at Olympedia
Ralfs Freibergs at Olympics.com
Ralfs Freibergs at the Latvijas Olimpiskā komiteja (in Latvian) (English translation, archive)

This biographical article relating to ice hockey in Latvia is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[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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