Irbe impressive in international showdowns

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002

By Lucas Aykroyd

The crucial February 12 game between Germany and Latvia is being billed as a duel of goaltenders. Although Marc Seliger’s .966 save percentage and GAA of 1.00 are outstanding, the 27-year-old German goalie has a long way to go before he can compare his international hockey record with that of Arturs Irbe.

Irbe unquestionably ranks as Latvia’s greatest goalie ever. He is only rivalled by forward Helmut Balderis and defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh as the greatest Latvian player, period.

The bulky-padded prodigy first sprang to prominence at the 1985 European Junior Championships, winning each of his five starts and reaping honors as the tournament’s top netminder.

Irbe’s performance was even more impressive at the 1990 IIHF World Championships, where he led the Soviet Union to the gold medal, the second-last time a Russian-dominated squad would accomplish that feat. Going undefeated in six games with a stunning GAA of 0.95, Irbe appeared to be the Soviet goalie of the future.

But history intervened with the dissolution of the USSR. The intensely patriotic Irbe was thrilled by the idea of getting to represent his Baltic homeland at the Olympics and World Championships. Latvia’s move to rejoin the IIHF on May 6, 1992 constituted the first small step toward the realization of his dream.

From 1991 to 1995, Irbe focused on his NHL career with the San Jose Sharks, highlighted by the 1994 playoff run in which he helped to defeat the Detroit Red Wings in seven games and went the distance with Toronto.

Then Latvia climbed into contention at the B Pool Championships in 1996 and Irbe got his opportunity to return to international hockey. He won three out of four games at that tournament to propel his country into the elite division.

Irbe’s heroics at the last five straight IIHF World Championships have kept Latvia from being relegated. Over that stretch, the 35-year-old has posted a cumulative record of 15 wins, seven losses and four ties. Latvia finished seventh in 1997 and eighth in 2000, marking some of the high points in Irbe’s international odyssey.

A workhorse for the Carolina Hurricanes, Irbe loves the smell of cold rubber. He may not face as many shots from the Germans as he gets in an NHL game, but he’ll need to be as quick and flexible as ever when their dogged forwards attack.

This will be Arturs Irbe’s first Olympic game. Don’t be surprised if he’s got some more coming.