Beware the Latvians

I’m almost done with the December prospect statistics. Seriously I am. It just so happens that I got distracted on something peculiar.

I noticed when compiling the stats for our WHL prospects that something was amiss. There was a long stretch of games where both of our Edmonton Oil Kings prospects were not playing in any games. I can understand one of the two missing a game here and there, because Cameron Abney really has lost his way as a hockey player, but for both Abney and Pelss to be out indefinitely? Something’s up here.

And sure enough, there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for both of them missing time. Abney for the aforementioned horrendous play, and Pelss for a much better reason.

He was helping his home country of Latvia win their way back to the spotlight of International Junior Hockey. Team Latvia, along with the Danes will be back in their place as Canada’s doormat next year in Calgary/Edmonton, both having won their way back as champions of the 2010 U-20 Division 1 Championship.

Our own Kristians Pelss was a leading light on his team, coming in tied for 4th in team scoring as an 18-year old. His final totals of 5GP 2-2-4 aren’t anything flashy but his PIM total of 31 is easily the highest on his team. He must have a bit of agitator in him to garner that kind of statistic. The team lead in points went to a 19-year old player, and fittingly so as this is primarily a tournament for upperclassmen, but Pelss’ respectable showing bodes well for his country’s team and his club team back in Canada. If he can step up his scoring prowess for Edmonton it’ll go a long way in raising his stock within the Oilers’ organization.

As the story unfortunately goes in the promotion/relegation of countries on a year-to-year basis as is the way in the IIHF’s current format, Latvia (and Denmark) will go from champions one year to likely cannon-fodder in 2011. It isn’t the greatest format, and one I’d certainly like to see changed (relegated top-tier teams and promoted Div1 teams should square off pre-tournament to determine who plays in which division, in my humble opinion), but that’s not for the here and now. Coming to Latvia’s aid next year is the fact that Pelss will be one year older and still eligible for the tournament, as will some kid by the name of Zemgus Girgensons, who played in this year’s tourney as a 17-year old and put up 4-3-7 over the five games. He’ll likely be the go-to guy next year, with Pelss riding shotgun as all the other top-10 scorers from this year will not be eligible in 2011.

So congratulations to Kristians Pelss and the rest of Team Latvia. Next year? Get ready for the pain.