Rūdolfs Balcers (born 8 April 1997) is a Latvian professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL). He was selected by the San Jose Sharks, 142nd overall, in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.[1][2] Balcers played three seasons for the Stavanger Oilers before moving to North America in 2016, where he spent one season with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). After one season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Sharks minor league affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, Balcers was traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2018, and made his NHL debut with the team in 2019. He rejoined the Sharks in 2021. Playing with the Latvian national team, Balcers played a central role in the country's first-ever medal at Ice Hockey World Championships in 2023.
| Rūdolfs Balcers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Balcers at the 2018 AHL All-Star Game | |||
| Born |
8 April 1997 Liepāja, Latvia | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NL team Former teams |
ZSC Lions Stavanger Oilers Ottawa Senators San Jose Sharks Florida Panthers Tampa Bay Lightning | ||
| National team |
 Latvia | ||
| NHL draft |
142nd overall, 2015 San Jose Sharks | ||
| Playing career | 2014–present | ||
Playing career
editAs a junior, Balcers played in Norway with Lørenskog until joining the Stavanger Oilers in the 2013–14 season.[3] The youngest player on the Oilers in 2014–15, he recorded 21 points in 38 regular season as the club won the league championship, and was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round, 142nd overall, at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.[4]
After three seasons with Stavanger Oilers he moved to continue his development in North America, joining major junior club the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the 2016–17 season. Balcers made a seamless transition to the WHL appearing in 66 games with the Blazers, finishing with 40 goals, the most on the team.[5]
Having experienced a successful season with Blazers, he was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with his draft team, the San Jose Sharks, on 13 July 2017.[6] After attending the Sharks 2017 training camp, he was assigned by the Sharks to begin his North American professional career with AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.[7] In the 2017–18 season, Balcers led the Barrcuda with 23 goals and 25 assists for 48 points in 67 games.[5] He was selected to represent the Barracuda at the 2018 All-Star Classic.[8]
In September 2018, Balcers was traded by the Sharks to the Ottawa Senators as part of a package of players, prospects and draft picks for Erik Karlsson.[9] Assigned to the Senators' AHL affiliate the Belleville Senators to start the season, Balcers was leading the team in goals and points when he was recalled by Ottawa in early January 2019.[10] He made his NHL debut with the Senators on 5 January 2019, against the Minnesota Wild,[11][12] and scored his first goal in the next game, on 6 January against the Carolina Hurricanes.[13]
After missing most of the 2019–20 season with an MCL injury, Balcers signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Senators in October 2020.[14] Shortly after that, he was loaned back to Stavanger until the start of the delayed 2020–21 season.[15] Balcers compiled seven goals and eight assists in just 10 games in his return with the Stavanger Oilers before returning to the Senators organization.
Approaching the conclusion of training camp, Balcers was placed on waivers by the Senators and subsequently claimed by his original club, the San Jose Sharks, on 12 January 2021.[16] He scored his first goal for the Sharks, in a 5–4 win over the St. Louis Blues on 20 February 2021.[17] On 22 July 2021, Balcers signed a two-year, $3.1 million contract with the Sharks.[18]
Following the 2021–22 season, despite having recorded career-best marks with 11 goals and 23 points through 61 regular season games, Balcers was placed on unconditional waivers by the Sharks in order to buyout the remaining season of his contract on 12 July 2022.[19] On 14 July, Balcers as a free agent agreed to a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Florida Panthers.[20] He made his Panthers debut on the opening night of the 2022–23 season, in a 3–1 victory over the New York Islanders on 13 October.[21]
Despite contributing with two goals and two assists through 14 games with the Panthers, Balcers was placed on waivers due to other roster considerations on 11 November 2022.[22] The following day on 12 November, Balcers was claimed off waivers by rival club, the Tampa Bay Lightning.[23]
After five NHL seasons, Balcers left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year contract with Swiss club, ZSC Lions of the NL, on 4 July 2023.[24]
International play
edit| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Latvia
| ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
 |
2023 Finland/Latvia | |
After representing Latvia at the junior level, Balcers was selected by head coach Bob Hartley for the 2018 World Championship.[25] In his senior debut game against Norway, he scored two goals including the overtime-winning goal.[26][27] The four goals and six points he scored in eight games led the Latvian team.[5]
He represented Latvia at the 2023 IIHF World Championship where he recorded two goals and seven assists and won a bronze medal, Latvia's first-ever IIHF World Championship medal.[28]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2012–13 | Lørenskog IK | NOR U18 | 26 | 20 | 17 | 37 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13 | Lørenskog IK | NOR U20 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Viking Hockey | NOR U18 | 22 | 35 | 23 | 58 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | Viking Hockey | NOR.2 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Stavanger Oilers | NOR | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Stavanger Oilers | NOR U20 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 14 | ||
| 2014–15 | Stavanger Oilers | NOR | 36 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Stavanger Oilers | NOR U18 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | Stavanger Oilers | NOR U20 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Stavanger Oilers | NOR | 43 | 15 | 9 | 24 | 16 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 4 | ||
| 2016–17 | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | 66 | 40 | 37 | 77 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | San Jose Barracuda | AHL | 67 | 23 | 25 | 48 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 2018–19 | Belleville Senators | AHL | 43 | 17 | 14 | 31 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 36 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Belleville Senators | AHL | 33 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 15 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Stavanger Oilers | NOR | 10 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 41 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 61 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 14 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 36 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2023–24 | ZSC Lions | NL | 50 | 20 | 18 | 38 | 18 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | ||
| NHL totals | 170 | 28 | 34 | 62 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Latvia | WJC18 | 9th | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2017 | Latvia | WJC | 10th | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | |
| 2018 | Latvia | WC | 8th | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2019 | Latvia | WC | 10th | 7 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2021 | Latvia | OGQ | Q | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2022 | Latvia | WC | 10th | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2023 | Latvia | WC | 
|
10 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2024 | Latvia | OGQ | Q | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 39 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 22 | ||||
| Senior totals | 38 | 14 | 22 | 36 | 2 | ||||
Awards and honours
edit| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| GET | ||
| Champions | 2015, 2016 | |
| AHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2018, 2020 | [29] |
| NL | ||
| Champion (ZSC Lions) | 2024 | [30] |
References
edit- ^ "San Jose Sharks 2015 draft 5nd round selections". National Hockey League. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "San Jose Penguins 2015 draft elections". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Stavanger Oilers 2013–14 season roster". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Quick FActs: Rudolfs Balcers". National Hockey League. 27 June 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ a b c Boylen, Rory (17 September 2018). "Prospect Of Interest: Who is Rudolfs Balcers?". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "Sharks Sign Forward Rudolfs Balcers to Entry-Level Contract". National Hockey League. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "San Jose Barracuda 2017–18 season roster". American Hockey League. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Barracuda rookie Balcers added to the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic". San Jose Barracuda. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Ottawa Senators complete most important trade in rebuild". National Hockey League. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Tidcombe, Matt (4 January 2019). "Ottawa recalls Balcers from Belleville". Bellevillesens.com. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ Warren, Ken (5 January 2019). "WARREN GAME REPORT: Senators' winless slide hits seven with loss to Wild". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- ^ Gundersen, Carl Gunnar (5 January 2019). "Tidligere Oilers-spiller debuterte i NHL". Aftenposten (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- ^ Fraser, Callum (6 January 2019). "Hurricanes hand Senators eighth straight loss". National Hockey League. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
- ^ "Senators sign forward Rudolfs Balcers to a one-year, two-way contract". National Hockey League. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ "Senators' Rudolfs Balcers: Loaned overseas". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ "Sharks claim forward Rudolfs Balcers off waivers from Senators". San Jose Sharks. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "Balcers scores in 3rd, Sharks hold off rallying Blues 5–4". ESPN. 20 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Sharks Re-Sign Forward Rudolfs Balcers". National Hockey League. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ "Balcers bought out by Sharks". NBC Sports. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Panthers agree to terms with Rudolfs Balcers on a one-year contract". Florida Panthers. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- ^ "Hornqvist, Bobrovsky lead Panthers to 3-1 win over Islanders". ESPN. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Panthers place F Balcers on waivers". The Sports Network. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ "Lightning claim Balcers off waivers from Panthers". The Sports Network. 12 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
- ^ "Lions sign Rudolfs Balcers" (in German). ZSC Lions. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "Paziņots Latvijas hokeja izlases kaujas sastāvs pasaules čempionātam" (in Latvian). Delfi. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "NOR vs LAT play-by-play". IIHF. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Team LAT match stats". IIHF. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Latvia wins historic bronze in OT". IIHF.com. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Bracco, Liljegren added to All-Star roster". American Hockey League. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ "The ZSC Lions win the 2023-24 championship". swisshockeynews.ch. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database