[LAT] Any updates on Arturs Irbe?

Is he going to sign any contract in the NHL? Does anyone have any news? :yo:

I heard something like he's gonna stay in the NHL if and only if he'll be the #1 keeper. As this ain't gonna happen considering his age and high price, he'll make it to Europe, closer to home.
Also heard that he's gonna retire after 2006 WC in Riga and Torino Olympics, so it's his final year.

its sad that his career was ruined a bit by certain mr rutherford, but i really hope he can make it to the wc and olympics and hopefully beat russia one more time..

hopefully beat russia one more time..
What Russia has done to you, kid?

What Russia has done to you, kid?
We are rivals like Colorado and Vancouver.

We are rivals like Colorado and Vancouver.
I see what you mean, but to be clear it works only one way. Russia for Latvians is like a red rag for the bull, but not the other way around. Latvia is just another team for Russians like Ukraine, or Denmark, or whatever. So, the comparison Colorado-Vancouver doesn't work here.
As a matter of a fact, in case of Latvia playing with some team (Finland, for example), Russian fans go for Latvia, as the small brother of the former big family. The same thing about Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan... But, Latvians put too much politics in hockey, so they go against Russia no matter who they play with. It's just the way it works.

I see what you mean, but to be clear it works only one way. Russia for Latvians is like a red rag for the bull, but not the other way around. Latvia is just another team for Russians like Ukraine, or Denmark, or whatever. So, the comparison Colorado-Vancouver doesn't work here.
As a matter of a fact, in case of Latvia playing with some team (Finland, for example), Russian fans go for Latvia, as the small brother of the former big family. The same thing about Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan... But, Latvians put too much politics in hockey, so they go against Russia no matter who they play with. It's just the way it works.
Nope, it's a bit different. Russia for Latvians is like a red rag for the bull, same to Latvia for Russians. Not to everybody, of course.
And no, Russian fans do not cheer for Latvia, neither as Latvians for Russia.
Also, Latvian sports team always was a die hard for Russian opposition.

Well... Latvia is too small for Russia. About 80% of Russians don't even know what's the capitol of Latvia. They always mess up Riga and Vilnius, Latvia and Lithuania... That I can tell you for sure. Latvian politicians and broadcasts try to make a look like Latvia is very important for Russia. But in fact, Latvia is the only one who cares about a "battle" Latvia-Russia in hockey.

You are right at some point, but still, you don't get the whole picture like I do. But :sarcasm: we've moved out of our main theme -- Irbe.

Right, we moved out of Irbe :D
I have a full picture of the situation, do not underestimate my knowledge ;)

To answer the question - I hate russia, and even though I like many russian players, I always hope their national team gets beaten big time in every game.. it has more of an political background and hasn't much to do with sports..

Getting back to Irbe - there are rumours, that atlanta are considering him to replace nurminen.. anyone else heard about it??

I heard about it, read in some online magazine ;)

Sorry to go O.T., but it's kind of nice to see some posts in here again

To go even further in to OT ;) , can anyone give a link to a list of teams qualified for the olympics??

http://www.iihf.com/hockey/olympic/schedule_m06.htm

not only teams, but even the schedule!

& Latvia is in!

& Latvia is in!

and even better - it's at the expense of belorussian team
:handclap:

someone has a link regardin irbe's retirement?

he hasn't retired yet!! and I don't think he's planning it either..

Definitely, he will play at the home World Championship in Riga, and in Olympics. And then, he can retire and work for the NHLPA where he is one of the most active negotiators.

Hey, look what I found! Interview with Arturs Irbe.

http://www.rushockey.com/events.php?i=nhl&stream=nhl_interviews&id=342

:jump:

What a cool guy :)

its sad that his career was ruined a bit by certain mr rutherford, but i really hope he can make it to the wc and olympics and hopefully beat russia one more time..
i'd say the lockout hurt it more, speaking that he had a job with Columbus to pressure Denis before the doors locked for the season

Uhm...

Im Russian and I like Latvia's National Team and Latvians in general :)

Granted, Ive met some cocky hateful Latvians with nazistic veiws that I found quite disagreable. However, most of the time: I will root for Latvia (or any former Soviet republic) just as much as I would do for Russia, except in a Russia-Latvia(or Belarus, ect) game.


Anyways, I hope when you say you hate Russia you mean the hockey team, (which is absolutely your business - I hate the Penguins) and not Russians as a whole. Because if the latter, Id like to point out that I personally never did anything to you to deserve such hate.

I hope when you say you hate Russia you mean the hockey team

Well I think that he means right what he wrote. Similar situation like ex-Yugoslavia...

USSR = Yugoslavia
Russians=Serbs
Latvians=Croats

Thats kinda sad. I dont like the Czech team, or the Latvian team. (Slovakia and Lithuania). But come on, I cant take the whole collective country with it. That is ridiculous.

International disagreements being over the stupidest things.

Thats kinda sad. I dont like the Czech team, or the Latvian team. (Slovakia and Lithuania). But come on, I cant take the whole collective country with it. That is ridiculous.

International disagreements being over the stupidest things.

Czechoslovakian crisis was one of the most harmless crisis (if we could call it crisis) in the World. Country was splitted without even one bullet and not much publicity. But sadly it wasn't the same for some other countries. Probably because of mentality and western forces' goals. I exactly mean on Balkans. But in former Soviet union it was different, with luck there was no war but emotions were strong. Probably because Latvians are another ethnicity and had their own military nazi unit in WWII. Well I won't go further in debate, that's historic and politic more... The topic is about Arturs Irbe, but anyways he sucks now, he should play somewhere in Europe cause he can't be a starter in NHL more. :teach:

Ooops, this post was an experiment that failed.

Is he going to sign any contract in the NHL? Does anyone have any news? :yo:

This just in.. Irbe still sucks.

Well, today was announced, that Irbe signed with Zalcburg "The Red Bulls" (Austria, Europe). :help:

Well, today was announced, that Irbe signed with Zalcburg "The Red Bulls" (Austria, Europe). :help:
yes, red bulls salzburg confirmed. that will mean swedish bust bjorn bjurling will be shown the door...

Well, today was announced, that Irbe signed with Zalcburg "The Red Bulls" (Austria, Europe). :help:

Here's a link :)
Former NHL goaltender Arturs Irbe joins Red Bulls Salzburg (http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/News/2005/12/05/1338370-ap.html)

Club spokesman Guido Stapelfeldt said Irbe will replace Swedish goalie Bjorn Bjurling "who fell out of favour with head coach Hardy Nilsson following some poor displays."