Zemgus Girgensons

Zemgus Girgensons
Girgensons with the Buffalo Sabres in 2016
Born	(1994-01-05) 5 January 1994 (age 30) Riga, Latvia
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Forward
Shoots	Left
NHL team	Buffalo Sabres
National team	Latvia
NHL Draft	14th overall, 2012 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	2012–present

Zemgus Girgensons (born 5 January 1994) is a Latvian professional ice hockey forward and alternate captain for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "the Latvian Locomotive", he was selected 14th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Sabres. ^{[1] [2]} With this selection, Girgensons became the highest-drafted Latvian in NHL history, ^[3] 16 spots higher than previous highest selection, Sandis Ozoliņš, in 1991. ^[1] In the previous year, Girgensons was selected in the second round, 28th overall, in the 2011 KHL Junior Draft by CSKA Moscow. ^[4] Girgensons was voted to the NHL All-Star Game in 2015.

Playing career

Girgensons began playing hockey in EVHS hockey school and was coached by former Dinamo Riga player Edmunds Vasiļjevs. ^[5] He played in Latvian minor and youth leagues. ^[6]

Junior

In 2009, Girgensons moved to North America and played in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) for the Green Mountain Glades. ^[7] The next season, he moved to the United States Hockey League (USHL) and played for the Dubuque Fighting Saints. ^[8] In 2011, he became a USHL champion with the Fighting Saints, ^[9] and he also participated in the USHL All-Star Game. ^[10] In the 2011–12 season, his last as a junior, Girgensons was named as the captain of the Fighting Saints. ^[11]

Professional

With the Sabres in 2013

Girgensons entered his draft eligibility year as a projected first-round draft pick. He was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round, 14th overall. The Sabres had already used their own first-round pick, selecting Mikhail Grigorenko 12th overall, but traded a first-round (21st overall) pick (from Nashville), which Calgary used to select Mark Jankowski, and a second-round (42nd overall) pick, to move up seven spots to draft Girgensons. ^[12] Before attending the Sabres' prospects' summer camp, Girgensons had committed to going to the University of Vermont Catamounts of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); ^[13] however, he signed a professional contract with the Sabres on 13 July 2012, which forfeited his NCAA eligibility. ^{[14] [15]}

Girgensons began the 2012–13 season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Rochester Americans. He had a slow start to the season and, at the beginning of 2013, he suffered an injury from a late hit by Richard Pánik of the Syracuse Crunch. ^[16] However, he finished the season strongly, scoring three goals in the Americans' first-round defeat in the Calder Cup playoffs. ^[17]

After scoring three goals and adding one assist in five preseason games, Girgensons began the 2013–14 season in the NHL with the Sabres. He scored his first career NHL goal in the Sabres' season opener against Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red Wings on 2 October 2013. ^[18]

Girgensons was the runaway leader in fan voting for the 2015 All-Star Game, buoyed in large part by votes from his native Latvia. ^[19]

On 1 September 2016, Girgensons, as a restricted free agent re-signed with the Sabres, agreeing to a one-year, $1.15 million contract extension. ^[20] The following season, on 17 August 2017, Girgensons re-signed with the Sabres again, agreeing to a two-year contract worth $3.2 million ^[21]

On 5 July 2019, Girgensons signed a one-year, $1.6 million contract extension with the Sabres. He posted 12 goals during the 2019–20 season, the second-highest goal total of his career and enjoyed success playing alongside Johan Larsson and Kyle Okposo, a line dubbed "The Roarin' 20's" by fans due to the trio's jersey numbers. ^[22] On 8 October 2020, Girgensons opted to forgo free agency and signed a three-year, $6.6 million contract extension with the Sabres.

On 4 January 2021, a day before his 27th birthday, Girgensons sustained a lower-body injury during a training camp scrimmage ahead of the 2020–21 NHL season and had to be helped off the ice. It was revealed on January 6 that he suffered a hamstring injury and had undergone successful surgery to correct it. It effectively ruled him out for the season. ^[23]

Prior to the start of the 2021–22 season, the Sabres named Girgensons one of two alternate captains, along with Kyle Okposo, as Jack Eichel was stripped of the captaincy prior to the season due to injury.^{[ citation needed ]}

On 20 June 2023, he signed a one-year contract with the Sabres. ^[24]

International play

Girgensons participated at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships as a member of the Latvian junior team and at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships. He made his senior national team debut in 2013 World Championships against the United States and scored his first international goal against Slovakia. He also was suspended for one game for spearing Branislav Mezei in the first period of the match in retaliation for an earlier hit. ^{[25] [26] [27]}

On 7 January 2014, it was announced that Latvia head coach Ted Nolan had included Girgensons on his national team roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics. ^[28] Girgensons scored his first Olympic goal in Latvia's third tournament game, coming versus Sweden off of a power play goal against Henrik Lundqvist. ^[29]

Girgensons has played for Latvia in the 2013 IIHF World Championship, 2014 IIHF World Championship, 2016 IIHF World Championship and 2017 IIHF World Championship.

Personal life

Girgensons comes from an ice hockey family. His father, Aldis Girgensons, played as defenceman for RTU Hanza Riga, ^[30] and is the general manager of East Hokkaido Cranes of the Asia League Ice Hockey (ALIH) and led the team to victory in the All-Japan Championship in December 2020.^{[ citation needed ]}

Girgensons and his wife have two children. ^[31]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2009–10	Green Mountain Glades	EmJHL		19	17	12	29	6		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Green Mountain Glades	EJHL		42	28	29	57	19		2	0	2	0	2
2010–11	Dubuque Fighting Saints	USHL		51	21	28	49	46		11	3	5	8	8
2011–12	Dubuque Fighting Saints	USHL		49	24	31	55	69		2	2	2	4	0
2012–13	Rochester Americans	AHL		61	6	11	17	28		3	3	0	3	0
2013–14	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		70	8	14	22	14		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		61	15	15	30	25		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		71	7	11	18	20		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		75	7	9	16	18		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		71	7	8	15	26		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		72	5	13	18	17		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		69	12	7	19	10		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		56	10	8	18	27		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		80	10	8	18	14		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				625	81	93	174	171		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2010	Latvia	WJC18	9th		6	1	1	2	2
2011	Latvia	WJC D1	11th		5	4	3	7	8
2012	Latvia	WJC	9th		6	2	0	2	6
2013	Latvia	WC	11th		5	1	0	1	0
2014	Latvia	OG	8th		5	1	1	2	2
2014	Latvia	WC	11th		6	2	0	2	29
2016	Latvia	WC	13th		7	1	0	1	4
2016	Latvia	OGQ	DNQ		3	0	1	1	2
2017	Latvia	WC	10th		7	1	1	2	0
Junior totals					17	7	4	11	16
Senior totals					33	6	3	9	37

Awards and honours

Award	Year	Ref
USHL
All-Star Game	2011
Clark Cup champion	2011
First All-Star Team	2012
NHL
All-Star Game	2015
Latvia
Rising Star of the Year Award	2013	[32]

References

1. "Girgensonu ar 14. numuru izvēlas Bufalo "Sabres"" (in Latvian). Sportacentrs.com. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
2. "Buffalo sabres 2012 draft selections". nhl.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
3. O'Leary, Ryan (22 March 2013). "Pursuit of passion". IIHF . Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
4. "2011 KHL Draft". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
5. "Edmunds Vasiļjevs: "Mūsu hokeja skola ir arī valstiska lieta"" (in Latvian). jjz.lv. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
6. "Spēlētāja dati" (in Latvian). lhf.lv. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
7. "Green Mountain Glades 2009/10 roster". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
8. "Dubuque Fighting Saints 2010/11 roster". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
9. "Clark Cup Champions". ushl.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
10. "USHL Names CCM Midseason All-Stars". ushl.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
11. "Fighting Saints Open Camp, Name Captains". oursportscentral.com. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
12. Masisak, Corey (23 June 2012). "Quality outdoes quantity on Draft Night trades". nhl.com. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
13. Morreale, Mike G. (1 November 2011). "Girgensons talks future plans ... in Vermont". nhl.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
14. "Girgensons, Sabres agree to terms on entry-level contract". nhl.com. 13 July 2012. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
15. Halford, Mike (13 July 2012). "Report: Buffalo first-rounder Girgensons passes on school, will sign with Sabres". nbcsports.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
16. Harrington, Mike (14 January 2013). "Girgensons knocked out of Amerks' lineup, likely with concussion". buffalonews.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
17. Vogl, John (2 May 2013). "Girgensons impressive, but Amerks get swept from playoffs". buffalonews.com. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
18. "Girgensons Scores in Opening Night Loss". 3 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
19. McLaren, Ian (9 December 2014). "Sabres' Girgensons dominating All-Star voting after 3 weeks". theScore.com. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
20. "Sabres Ink Girgensons to One-Year Contract".
21. "Girgensons signs two-year contract with Sabres".
22. Zehler, Pete (14 October 2019). "Buffalo Sabres: Stars Provide Challenge for Sabres First Line". sabrenoise.com. Fansided. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
23. "Sabres' Zemgus Girgensons out for season after hamstring injury". sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
24. LaBarber, Jourdon (20 June 2023). "Sabres sign Girgensons to 1-year contract". NHL.com. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
25. "Game Lineup" (PDF). IIHF . 5 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
26. "Game Summary" (PDF). IIHF . 9 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
27. "Girgensons suspended one game". IIHF . 13 May 2013. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
28. "Nolans nosauc sastāvu Olimpiskajām spēlēm" (in Latvian). lhf.lv. 7 January 2014. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
29. Calamia, Matt (15 February 2014). "Lundqvist, Sweden Stay Perfect With Win Over Latvia". NHL.com. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
30. "Aldis Girgensons at eliteprospects.com". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
31. Hoppe, Bill (23 September 2021). "Zemgus Girgensons excited to be back, believes Sabres' rebuild can work". Buffalo Hockey Beat. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
32. "Par 2013. gada Latvijas labākajiem sportistiem atzīti Martins Dukurs un Anastasija Grigorjeva". delfi.lv (in Latvian). 27 December 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2024.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database
• Profile on Fighting Saints website

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Laura Ikauniece	Latvian Rising Sportspersonality of the Year 2013	Succeeded by Jeļena Ostapenko
Sporting positions
Preceded by Mikhail Grigorenko	Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick 2012	Succeeded by Rasmus Ristolainen