| Artūrs Irbe | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Irbe in 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1967-02-02)2 February 1967 (age 58) Riga,Latvian SSR,Soviet Union | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Goaltender | |||||||||||||||||||
| Caught | Left | |||||||||||||||||||
| Played for | Dynamo Riga San Jose Sharks Dallas Stars Vancouver Canucks Carolina Hurricanes HK Riga 2000 EC Red Bull Salzburg SK Rīga 20 Hk Dynamax Oil Nitra | |||||||||||||||||||
| National team |  Soviet Union and Latvia | |||||||||||||||||||
| NHL draft | 196th overall,1989 Minnesota North Stars | |||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1981–2006 | |||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Artūrs Irbe (born 2 February 1967) is a Latvian professionalice hockey coach and formergoaltender. Born during the Soviet era, Irbe played for various Soviet league teams and the Soviet Union national team before moving to North America in 1991. Irbe played in theNational Hockey League (NHL) for theSan Jose Sharks,Dallas Stars,Vancouver Canucks, andCarolina Hurricanes. In 2004 Irbe returned to Europe to play until he retired in 2007. He has served as a goaltending coach withDinamo Riga, theWashington Capitals, and theBuffalo Sabres, as well as internationally with theLatvia men's national ice hockey team. He was inducted into theIIHF Hall of Fame in 2010. Irbe was rated number 93 onThe Hockey News list of the Top 100 Goalies of All-Time in 2018.[1]
Irbe was drafted in the 10th round, 196th overall, by theMinnesota North Stars in the1989 NHL Entry Draft.
Irbe's first professional hockey team wasDinamo Riga of theSoviet Hockey League (from 1987 to 1991). After playing in only two games during the 1986–87 season, Irbe received a chance to become Dinamo Riga's number one goaltender during the 1987–88 season when their starting goaltender and Olympic champion,Vitali Samoilov, incurred a long-term injury. In his only full professional season, Irbe was outstanding in helping Dinamo Riga advance to the finals of the Soviet Hockey League, where they eventually lost to perennial Soviet championsCSKA Moscow. During this period, he also played for the Soviet Union in theWorld Championships in 1989 and 1990. The Soviet team won those two championships and Irbe was honoured as the best goalkeeper of the 1990 tournament. He refused to play for the Soviet Union in 1991 because Latvia had proclaimed independence from the Soviet Union on 4 May 1990 and the Soviet government attempted to use military force in January 1991 to stop Latvia's independence. When the Moscow government sent tanks intoRiga, Irbe was among those who took to the streets and put up barriers to protect buildings, radio stations, TV towers and historical landmarks.[2]
In the 1988–89 season, Irbe travelled to North America with his then club Dinamo Riga to play in a series of exhibition games againstNational Hockey League (NHL) teams. The next season (1989–90), he was temporarily added to the CSKA Moscow team during an exhibition tour of North America.
Irbe began his playing career in North America with theInternational Hockey League (IHL) affiliate of the NHL'sSan Jose Sharks, theKansas City Blades. During the 1991–92 season with the Blades, he led the IHL in goals against average, playoffs games played, playoffs minutes played, playoffs wins, playoffs most goals allowed, playoffs assists and playoffs penalty minutes, and led the team to win theTurner Cup league championship.
In the1991–92 season, Irbe also played in 14 games with the Sharks, with whom he would remain until the1995–96 season. With Irbe playing goaltender, the newly established Sharks made their first playoff appearance in the1993–94 season and upset the top-seededDetroit Red Wings. That season, Irbe played an NHL record 4,412 minutes in goal for the Sharks. Irbe, affectionately known as "Archie", was nicknamed "The Wall" and became a cult figure in San Jose, a status he enjoys there to this day. Following an injury (his hand being mauled by his pet dog in the off-season) and a poor1995–96 season, Irbe was released by the Sharks.
For the next two years, Irbe served as the backup goaltender for theDallas Stars and theVancouver Canucks (for whom he played significant stretches with ample success) until he became the starter for theCarolina Hurricanes in the1998–99 season. Irbe was picked to be a member of the World NHL All-Star team in the 1998–99 season, where he became the first goaltender to record an assist in an NHL All-Star Game. The highest point of his career with the Hurricanes was the2001–02 season, when Irbe was instrumental in leading the Hurricanes to theStanley Cup finals, where Carolina fell to the Detroit Red Wings.
After a disappointing2002–03 season, the Hurricanes looked to demote Irbe because they could not move him due to the no-trade clause in his contract. On 16 October 2003, Irbe was assigned to theJohnstown Chiefs of theECHL.[3] After going 8–2–1 in 11 games with the Chiefs, Irbe was named as the starter for the Eastern Conference in the 2004 ECHL All-Star Game.[4] However, Irbe was unable to participate due to a wrist injury. On 19 March 2004, Irbe was recalled to the Carolina Hurricanes after goaltenderKevin Weekes was placed on theinjured reserve list due to season-ending hand surgery.[5]
Irbe played his last game in the NHL on 4 April 2004 against theFlorida Panthers, where he was replaced by Kevin Weekes in the third period after conceding six goals. The game would end in a 6–6 tie, which would ultimately be the final tie in NHL history as the league moved to shootout in the following season in the2005–06 season.
In June 2004, Irbe was traded to theColumbus Blue Jackets, but never played with the club due to that year'sNHL lockout. After the lockout canceled the 2004–05 season, Irbe never played in the NHL again, choosing to continue his career in Europe.
Irbe played forHK Riga 2000 in Latvia andEC Red Bull Salzburg in Austria during the 2004–05 season. He signed withHK Dynamax Nitra playing in theSlovak Ice Hockey Extraliga, but he decided to leave after his unsatisfactory results.
Irbe is notable on the ice for his helmet and padding – he has worn them almost continuously since his NHL debut for the San Jose Sharks – which are creased and scuffed with puck marks and stains. He has earned the nickname "Michelin Man" as a result.
In the early 2000s, he placed an ad in theOttawa Pennysaver seeking any resident with the famedJofagoaltender mask.
In 2008, Irbe signed a three-year contract withDinamo Riga to work as the goaltending coach for the club.[6] In August 2009, Irbe cut ties with Riga and decided to go back to North America to be the goaltending coach of the NHL'sWashington Capitals after former goaltending coach Dave Prior resigned for family reasons.[7] Irbe left the team on 11 June 2011, to spend more time with his family.
In 2013, Irbe was named asTed Nolan's assistant for theLatvian national team,[8] but resigned a year after a dispute with president of theLatvian Ice Hockey FederationKirovs Lipmans over his coaching certification.[9] In August 2014, Nolan again hired Irbe as an assistant, this time with theBuffalo Sabres.[10][11]
While serving with Buffalo in 2014 at age 47, Irbe dressed as a goaltender after the injury ofMichal Neuvirth to be theback-up goaltender forJhonas Enroth.[12]
In August 2017, Irbe became a consultant for the Latvian hockey league clubHK Kurbads.[13]
During the2023 IIHF World Championship co-hosted in Tampere, Finland, and Riga, Latvia, Irbe won a bronze medal together with the Latvian national team as a goaltending coach. In addition, Latvian national team goaltenderArtūrs Šilovs was named the MVP of the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
Irbe is also a member of board of directors of the Kids First Fund, a non-profit organization based in the United States which raises money for projects assisting abused and abandoned children in Latvia.[14]
At the2006 Winter Olympics inTurin, Irbe was Latvia's flag-bearer in the opening ceremonies.[15]
Bolded numbers indicate season leader
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1983–84 | Latvijas Berzs Riga | USSR-3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | Latvijas Berzs Riga | USSR-3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | RASMS Riga | USSR-3 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | RASMS Riga | USSR-3 | 47 | — | — | — | — | 2643 | 134 | — | 3.04 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Dinamo Riga | USSR | 2 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 1 | 0 | 2.22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Dinamo Riga | USSR | 34 | — | — | — | — | 1870 | 86 | 4 | 2.76 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | RASMS Riga | USSR-3 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | 2.32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Dinamo Riga | USRR | 40 | — | — | — | — | 2460 | 116 | 4 | 2.83 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Dinamo Riga | USSR | 48 | — | — | — | — | 2880 | 115 | 2 | 2.40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Dinamo Riga | USSR | 46 | — | — | — | — | 2713 | 133 | 5 | 2.94 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Kansas City Blades | IHL | 32 | 24 | 7 | 1 | — | 1955 | 80 | 0 | 2.46 | .911 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 914 | 44 | 0 | 2.89 | — | ||
| 1991–92 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 13 | 2 | 6 | 3 | — | 645 | 48 | 0 | 4.47 | .868 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Kansas City Blades | IHL | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 364 | 20 | 0 | 3.30 | .876 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 36 | 7 | 26 | 0 | — | 2074 | 142 | 1 | 4.11 | .886 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 74 | 30 | 28 | 16 | — | 4412 | 209 | 3 | 2.84 | .899 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 806 | 50 | 0 | 3.72 | .875 | ||
| 1994–95 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 38 | 14 | 19 | 3 | — | 2043 | 111 | 4 | 3.26 | .895 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 369 | 32 | 0 | 5.20 | .848 | ||
| 1995–96 | Kansas City Blades | IHL | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 226 | 16 | 0 | 4.24 | .843 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 22 | 4 | 12 | 4 | — | 1112 | 85 | 0 | 4.59 | .860 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 35 | 17 | 12 | 3 | — | 1965 | 88 | 3 | 2.69 | .893 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 | ||
| 1997–98 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 41 | 14 | 11 | 6 | — | 1999 | 91 | 2 | 2.73 | .907 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 62 | 27 | 20 | 12 | — | 3643 | 135 | 6 | 2.22 | .923 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 408 | 15 | 0 | 2.21 | .917 | ||
| 1999–00 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 75 | 34 | 28 | 9 | — | 4345 | 175 | 5 | 2.42 | .906 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 77 | 37 | 29 | 9 | — | 4406 | 180 | 6 | 2.45 | .908 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 360 | 20 | 0 | 3.34 | .900 | ||
| 2001–02 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 51 | 20 | 19 | 11 | — | 2974 | 126 | 3 | 2.54 | .902 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 1078 | 30 | 1 | 1.67 | .938 | ||
| 2002–03 | Lowell Lock Monsters | AHL | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 427 | 21 | 0 | 2.95 | .908 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 34 | 7 | 24 | 2 | — | 1884 | 100 | 0 | 3.18 | .877 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Johnstown Chiefs | ECHL | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | — | 847 | 30 | 1 | 2.13 | .927 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | 564 | 23 | 0 | 2.45 | .899 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | HK Riga 2000 | BXL | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2.04 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | HK Riga 2000 | BXL | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | EC Red Bull Salzburg | AUT | 17 | 9 | 6 | — | 1 | 1012 | 35 | 0 | 2.08 | .914 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.53 | .907 | ||
| 2005–06 | HK Riga 2000 | LAT | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1.95 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | SK Riga 20 | LAT | 4 | 0 | 4 | — | 0 | 240 | 21 | 0 | 5.25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | HK Dynamax - Oil Nitra | SVK | 6 | 1 | 2 | — | 3 | 249 | 22 | 0 | 5.31 | .814 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| USSR totals | 173 | — | — | — | — | 9859 | 451 | 15 | 2.74 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 568 | 218 | 236 | 79 | — | 32,066 | 1513 | 33 | 2.83 | .899 | 51 | 23 | 27 | 2981 | 142 | 1 | 2.86 | .902 | ||||
Bolded numbers indicate tournament leader
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Soviet Union | EJC | 5 | 300 | 5 | 1.00 | ||||||
| 1989 | Soviet Union | WC | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 175 | 5 | 0 | 1.71 | ||
| 1990 | Soviet Union | WC | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 315 | 5 | 1 | 0.95 | .950 | |
| 1996 | Latvia | WC B | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 240 | 7 | 0 | 1.75 | .933 | |
| 1997 | Latvia | WC | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 300 | 10 | 1 | 2.00 | .930 | |
| 1998 | Latvia | WC | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 358 | 17 | 1 | 2.85 | .893 | |
| 1999 | Latvia | WC | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 238 | 12 | 0 | 3.02 | .861 | |
| 2000 | Latvia | WC | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 420 | 17 | 0 | 2.43 | .906 | |
| 2001 | Latvia | WC | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 360 | 13 | 2 | 2.17 | .924 | |
| 2002 | Latvia | OG | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 4 | 0 | 4.00 | .862 | |
| 2003 | Latvia | WC | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 180 | 9 | 0 | 3.00 | .901 | |
| 2004 | Latvia | WC | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 300 | 9 | 0 | 1.80 | .925 | |
| 2005 | Latvia | WC | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 283 | 7 | 2 | 1.48 | .944 | |
| 2006 | Latvia | OG | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 148 | 14 | 0 | 5.68 | .833 | |
| Senior totals | 53 | — | — | — | 3137 | 122 | 7 | 2.33 | — | |||
TheSuper Series were exhibition games between an NHL team and Soviet teams (usually a club from theSoviet Championship League). Irbe competed in two such series.
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–89 | Dynamo Riga | Super-S | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 425 | 23 | 0 | 3.25 |
| 1990 | CSKA Moscow | Super-S | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 300 | 18 | 1 | 2.50 |
| Super Series totals | 11 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 725 | 41 | 1 | 2.88 | ||
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| EJC Best Goaltender | 1985[16] |
| WC Best Goaltender | 1990[16] |
| IIHF Hall of Fame | 2010[17][18] |
| IIHF All-Time Latvia Team | 2020 |
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Rookie of the Year | 1988 |
| Award | Year(s) awarded |
|---|---|
| Turner Cup | 1992 |
| IHL First All-Star Team | 1992 |
| James Norris Memorial Trophy (IHL) | 1992 (Shared withWade Flaherty) |
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| NHL All-Star Game | 1994,1999 |
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| Player of the Year | 1994[19] |
| Award | Year(s) awarded |
|---|---|
| ECHL All-Star Game | 2004 (DNP, wrist injury) |
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| San Jose Sports Hall of Fame | 2010[20] |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
