Latvian national team goaltender Gustavs Dāvis Grigals opened up about his professional career milestones, an eBay purchase of his debut international jersey, and his strong start with Finnish club SaiPa in an interview with journalist Jānis Matulis reported by lsm.lv. The 28-year-old netminder sat down for an LSM sports broadcast discussion alongside journalist Lotārs Zariņš ahead of the upcoming Deutschland Cup tournament in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Deutschland Cup Schedule in Düsseldorf
The Deutschland Cup runs from Nov. 5 to Nov. 8 in Düsseldorf, bringing together the national ice hockey teams of Latvia, Germany, Slovakia, and Austria. Grigals joins the Latvian squad following a demanding opening stretch of the Finnish Liiga season with SaiPa.
Recall senior national team debut and eBay jersey acquisition
Grigals vividly recalls his senior national team debut and his time with Dinamo Rīga, highlighting his very first appearance in a Latvia jersey which he managed to shut out completely. During the broadcast interview, the goaltender shared a peculiar detail regarding that milestone: the exact national team jersey from his senior debut was acquired through the online auction site eBay after a teammate purchased it from a Lithuanian seller.
Strong Numbers in Finland and the National Break
Through the early portion of the Liiga season, Grigals has appeared in eight of SaiPa’s 18 matches, posting a 1.61 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. The veteran goaltender acknowledged that accumulated fatigue made the international break necessary to step away from daily club duties, noting that earlier in his career he would have argued against any interruption to the regular league schedule.
Shifting Mindsets and Praising Young Talent
Reflecting on his mental approach to game days, Grigals noted that his emotional routine has evolved over the years, contrasting his current perspective with a time when strict isolation on game days was non-negotiable. He also highlighted the performance of 18-year-old defenseman Alberts Šmits, praising the young player for securing a regular role with the New York Rangers at such an early stage. Grigals is well-acquainted with Šmits, as both competed in the Finnish league system during the previous season.
Answer questions about tournament dates and goaltender statistics
When and where is the Deutschland Cup taking place?
The tournament takes place from Nov. 5 to Nov. 8 in Düsseldorf, Germany, featuring national teams from Latvia, Germany, Slovakia, and Austria.
What are Gustavs Dāvis Grigals’ statistics with SaiPa this season?
In his first eight appearances of the season for SaiPa, Grigals recorded a 1.61 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.
How did Grigals acquire his first Latvia national team jersey?
Grigals revealed that the jersey from his senior international debut was obtained via the online auction site eBay by a teammate who bought it from a Lithuanian seller.
Keep reading
