Ozolinsh sweetens Colorado attack

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 1999

By Lucas Aykroyd

He admits to a weakness for glazed doughnuts and claims he’d be shelving boxes in his mother’s stores in Latvia if he wasn’t in the NHL. He is Sandis Ozolinsh, the top offensive defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche, and his blithe off-ice demeanor fits in with the audacious deeds he performs nightly on the rink. No other NHL defender moves in deep off the power play point with the zest of this 27-year-old native of Riga, who’s been a threat to score ever since the San Jose Sharks drafted him 30th overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. He boasts a 1996 Stanley Cup ring for his efforts, along with three All-Star Game appearances and other honors. Ozolinsh entered a 15 November clash with the Vancouver Canucks at GM Place as the third-leading scorer among NHL defensemen (3-10-13). He finished the night pointless, but threw his 6-3, 205-pound frame around with uncharacteristic aggression, once launching himself on top of Vancouver’s Peter Schaefer right inside the Colorado bench during a messy line change. EuroReport’s Lucas Aykroyd caught up with Ozolinsh after the 2-2 overtime tie.

EuroReport: You had a pretty physical game tonight, mixing it up with Peter Schaefer and Andrew Cassels. What got into you?

Sandis Ozolinsh [laughing]: The first guy got me by surprise. I didn’t think he was eligible for play at the moment he hit me, and he cross-checked me right in my forearm, so I got a little mad at him. And Cassels hit Patrick Roy, so I had to defend my goalie.

EuroReport: How does it feel to start the season with Colorado instead of coming in halfway as you did with your contract dispute last year?

Ozolinsh: I feel a lot more comfortable. I don’t have to worry about anything. I just get ready for the game and play hockey.

EuroReport: And you’re off to a nice start offensively. What’s been the main factor in your scoring success?

Ozolinsh: I don’t know, really. The whole team hasn’t played very consistently, but I think we’re starting to pull it together now, and that helps.

EuroReport: What’s impressed you about the play of the latest addition to the Colorado blueline, [20-year-old Czech rookie defenseman] Martin Skoula?

Ozolinsh: He’s very calm on the ice. Usually rookies either try to do too much or play very passively, but he’s very smart at picking his plays. And he doesn’t just throw the puck away. He tries to make plays.

EuroReport: How has the team had to adjust in terms of playing without Peter Forsberg?

Ozolinsh: We knew it was going to happen, already by training camp. Somebody would have to step up and we’ve got second-line centermen to carry the line. It’s been working out pretty well. But now we’re missing Joe Sakic, and it’s a challenge again!

EuroReport: What was the reaction in the dressing room to the trading of Claude Lemieux, who played such a big role alongside Forsberg and Valeri Kamensky?

Ozolinsh: I think he was a good player. He was a very hard worker. He gave us at least 20 goals per season. So, once again, we’re all going to have to step up to fill in for him.

EuroReport: Let’s talk about the work you’ve done for hockey back in Latvia. What’s the Sandis Ozolinsh and Arturs Irbe Youth Hockey Fund all about?

Ozolinsh: Well, we tried to set up a place where people can donate money and that money would go to youth hockey development. But so far, it hasn’t worked out very good. I mean, the only donations have been from me and Arturs! [laughs] It’s tough, because I think we have to be there and do it ourselves to be sure where the money is going. I don’t want to say anything bad, but you know…[laughs]. We’ll get it going once we retire, probably.

EuroReport: What do you think is the biggest key to developing more top-flight players from Latvia?

Ozolinsh: I think more ice surfaces and stuff like that. You see, me and Arturs, we had it easy when we were growing up because we had the government helping us out. We didn’t have to pay for our equipment or for practicing. We could decide to play hockey or soccer or whatever else we liked. We just went there and started playing.

EuroReport: Darius Kasparaitis, who’s also from the Baltic states [Lithuania], has chosen to play for Russia in international competition in the past. You don’t. What was the basis for your decision?

Ozolinsh: Well, we’ve got our own team, and we’ve made it to Pool A. I’m a Latvian, and I want to play for my country. Darius’s situation is different. He doesn’t really have a national team to play for. I think he has also spent more time in Russia than he’s spent in Lithuania, so I think that was part of his decision.

EuroReport: In Latvia, they’ve published a biography of you recently. Were you involved with that project?

Ozolinsh: Yeah! They asked me questions and I just answered them. [laughs]

EuroReport: Finally, looking ahead to the playoffs this year, what will it take for Colorado to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup again?

Ozolinsh: Staying healthy will be the key. And also special teams. These days, it’s such a tight game out there five-on-five, it’s almost impossible to score goals. The goals that are scored are just lucky bounces and stuff like that. Right now, I’m enjoying the new four-on-four overtime set-up. It’s more open and teams can just go for it, especially if they need points at the end of the season.