Ralfs Freibergs

Ralfs Freibergs (born 17 May 1991) is a Latvian professional ice hockey defencemen, who currently plays for Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Ralfs Freibergs
Born (1991-05-17) 17 May 1991
Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Defenseman
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams		 Dinamo Riga
St. John's IceCaps
National team  Latvia
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2013–present

Playing career

After first playing professionally in his native Latvia, Freibergs moved to North America as a junior and played collegiate hockey with the Bowling Green State University Falcons in the NCAA league. Freibergs was a member of Latvia men's national ice hockey team and he has played in 2013 IIHF World Championship as well as the 2014 Winter Olympics.

On 8 August 2014, Freibergs signed his first North American professional contract in agreeing to a one-year American Hockey League deal with the St. John's IceCaps.[1] Freibergs appeared in 5 games with the IceCaps, however was reassigned to ECHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign for the majority of the campaign.

Leading into the 2015–16 season, Freibergs accepted an invitation to the Grand Rapids Griffins training camp on 28 September 2015. He was later reassigned and signed an ECHL contract with affiliate, the Toledo Walleye on October 6, 2015.

On July 15, 2016, Freibergs returned to his native Latvia as a free agent from North America, signing a contract with Dinamo Riga of the KHL.[2]

International play

Freibergs competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics being the only active NCAA hockey player to compete in the men's tournament. His first appearance was in the third game when he logged 4:56 of ice time.[3] Freibergs also competed in the elimination round games against Switzerland and Canada.[4][5]

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on 25 April 2014, that Freibergs was excluded from the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Freibergs provided a urine sample on 22 February whose A and B samples indicated the presence of dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone metabolite 18-nor-17b-hydroxymethyl-17a-methyl-4- chloro-5b-androst-13-en-3a-ol.[6]

References
  1. "IceCaps re-sign Fredheim, sign Freibergs". St. John's IceCaps. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  2. "Riga add players to squad". sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 15 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  3. "Bowling Green impacts thrilling day at Sochi". Bowling Green Falcons. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  4. "Latvia take on Switzerland" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  5. "Canada defeat courageous Latvia" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  6. "Disciplinary commission release statement" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.


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