The Most Famous
HOCKEY PLAYERS from Latvia
This page contains a list of the greatest Latvian Hockey Players. The pantheon dataset contains 676 Hockey Players, 12 of which were born in Latvia. This makes Latvia the birth place of the 10th most number of Hockey Players behind Germany, and Switzerland.
Top 10
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Latvian Hockey Players of all time. This list of famous Latvian Hockey Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Latvian Hockey Players.
1. Kārlis Skrastiņš (1974 - 2011)
With an HPI of 38.39, Kārlis Skrastiņš is the most famous Latvian Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 21 different languages on wikipedia.
Kārlis Skrastiņš (July 9, 1974 – September 7, 2011) was a Latvian professional ice hockey player. Skrastiņš was drafted by the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League in 1998 as a defenceman and spent twelve years in the league playing for the Predators, the Colorado Avalanche, the Florida Panthers, and the Dallas Stars. For the 2011-2012 season, Skrastiņš left the NHL and signed a contract to play in Russia for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). However, he never got to play a game for Lokomotiv as he was killed in the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash that killed almost the entire team on September 7, 2011.
2. Sandis Ozoliņš (b. 1972)
With an HPI of 37.29, Sandis Ozoliņš is the 2nd most famous Latvian Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.
Sandis Ozoliņš (born 3 August 1972), commonly spelled Sandis Ozolinsh in North America, is a Latvian former professional ice hockey player and coach. During his career in North America, Ozoliņš was a seven-time NHL All-Star, Stanley Cup champion (as a member of the 1995–96 Colorado Avalanche), and Norris Trophy finalist. He is also the all-time leader for goals, assists, points, and games played by a Latvian in the NHL and holds several Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks franchise records. Ozoliņš also the highest-paid sportsman in Latvian history, before NBA basketball player Andris Biedriņš succeeded him in 2008. He became the head coach of Dinamo in 2017. Ozoliņš was drafted in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks as the 8th pick of the 2nd round, 30th overall. He played for the Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and New York Rangers. He is often considered a prototype "offensive defenseman," becoming heavily involved in his team's offense and scoring opportunities. In 2014 Ozoliņš was awarded Order of the Three Stars for his long-standing contributions to Latvian ice hockey and sports.
3. Sergejs Žoltoks (1972 - 2004)
With an HPI of 31.74, Sergejs Žoltoks is the 3rd most famous Latvian Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Sergei Zholtok (Russian: Сергей Жолток), also known as Sergejs Žoltoks (December 2, 1972 – November 3, 2004) was a Latvian professional ice hockey centre. He played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators from 1993 to 2004.
4. Kaspars Daugaviņš (b. 1988)
With an HPI of 30.63, Kaspars Daugaviņš is the 4th most famous Latvian Hockey Player. Her biography has been translated into 16 different languages.
Kaspars Daugaviņš (born May 18, 1988) is a Latvian former professional ice hockey player who most recently played for Dukla Michalovce of the Slovak Extraliga. Daugaviņš has played professionally in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins. The Senators selected him in the third round, 91st overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
5. Lauris Dārziņš (b. 1985)
With an HPI of 28.45, Lauris Dārziņš is the 5th most famous Latvian Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Lauris Dārziņš (born January 28, 1985) is a former Latvian professional ice hockey forward who played with Dinamo Riga in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) before retiring in 2022. Currently (2024) he is the assistant of the Latvian team coach.
6. Kristaps Sotnieks (b. 1987)
With an HPI of 28.01, Kristaps Sotnieks is the 6th most famous Latvian Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Kristaps Sotnieks (born January 29, 1987) is a Latvian professional ice-hockey defenseman. He currently plays for Dinamo Riga in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
7. Jānis Sprukts (b. 1982)
With an HPI of 27.91, Jānis Sprukts is the 7th most famous Latvian Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.
Jānis Sprukts (born January 31, 1982) is a retired Latvian professional ice hockey forward.
8. Miks Indrašis (b. 1990)
With an HPI of 27.58, Miks Indrašis is the 8th most famous Latvian Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Miks Indrašis (born 30 September 1990) is a Latvian professional ice hockey forward for the Schwenninger Wild Wings in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
9. Miķelis Rēdlihs (b. 1984)
With an HPI of 27.07, Miķelis Rēdlihs is the 9th most famous Latvian Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Miķelis Rēdlihs (born July 1, 1984) is a Latvian professional ice hockey forward, currently playing for HK Olimp of Latvian Hockey League (LAT). He has played for Latvian national team in the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 World Championships. Two of Miķelis Rēdlihs' brothers also are hockey players - Jēkabs Rēdlihs and Krišjānis Rēdlihs.
10. Viktor Tikhonov (b. 1988)
With an HPI of 26.12, Viktor Tikhonov is the 10th most famous Latvian Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.
Viktor Vasilievich Tikhonov (Russian: Виктор Васильевич Тихонов; born 12 May 1988) is a Russian former professional ice hockey forward. Tikhonov was originally selected 28th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, by the Phoenix Coyotes. After several years in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Coyotes, Tikhonov moved to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia, where he spent four years with SKA St. Petersburg. In 2015, he returned to the NHL, signing a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, appearing in 11 games for them before he was claimed on waivers by the Coyotes. He was named after his grandfather, Viktor Vasilyevich Tikhonov, the late Soviet ice hockey player and coach. His father was Vasili Tikhonov, who was also an ice hockey coach. Born in Latvia while it was still a member of the USSR, Tikhonov has represented Russia internationally, participating in several World Championships and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
People
Pantheon has 12 people classified as Latvian hockey players born between 1972 and 1994. Of these 12, 10 (83.33%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Latvian hockey players include Sandis Ozoliņš, Kaspars Daugaviņš, and Lauris Dārziņš. The most famous deceased Latvian hockey players include Kārlis Skrastiņš, and Sergejs Žoltoks. As of April 2024, 1 new Latvian hockey players have been added to Pantheon including Miks Indrašis.
Living Latvian Hockey Players
Go to all Rankings
Sandis Ozoliņš
1972 - Present
HPI: 37.29
Kaspars Daugaviņš
1988 - Present
HPI: 30.63
Lauris Dārziņš
1985 - Present
HPI: 28.45
Kristaps Sotnieks
1987 - Present
HPI: 28.01
Jānis Sprukts
1982 - Present
HPI: 27.91
Miks Indrašis
1990 - Present
HPI: 27.58
Miķelis Rēdlihs
1984 - Present
HPI: 27.07
Viktor Tikhonov
1988 - Present
HPI: 26.12
Elvis Merzļikins
1994 - Present
HPI: 24.69
Zemgus Girgensons
1994 - Present
HPI: 20.66
