The writer thanks Canada for inventing hockey and wants me to know that there is a player on the Vancouver Canucks - my favourite team - who is from Latvia: Teodors Bļugers (anglicized as Teddy Blueger.
Teddy Blueger is from Latvia and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2012. After playing for the Penguins minor league affiliate for four years, he went on the play five for the Penguins before he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2023 trade deadline. The Knights won the Stanley Cup that year. He only played in six games fore the Knights in the playoffs, recording a goal and an assist.
He signed with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent in the summer of 2023 - one-year at US$1.9 million. He recorded 6 goals and 22 assists in 68 games his first year. The Canucks then re-signed Blueger for two years worth US$1.8 million per season.
He has represented Latvia internationally at the Under-18 World Championships, the Under-20 World Championships, and the World Championships (three times), earning 30 points as a junior player, and 8 as a senior player.
Artūrs Šilovs, who wasn't mentioned in the postcard, is the other Latvian represented on the Canucks roster. He was in Vancouver's minor league affiliate when the card was written. However, later in the year he was called up and ended up being their number one goaltender in the playoffs after Thatcher Demko, the number one goalie, and Casey DeSmith, the number two goalie, both went down to injuries.
Šilovs is currently the backup goalie Vancouver, and still plays some games for the minor league affiliate in Abbotsford. He is on a two year contract with Vancouver.
Šilovs and the Latvian men's team went on the win the bronze medal against the United States at the 2023 IIHF World Championships, hosted by Latvia that year. He also won the top goaltender award and the Most Valuable Player award.
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