Karsums, Martins
Karsums Signs Two-Year Deal with Dynamo Riga
Submitted by timothy on July 23, 2010 - 20:12Latvian media outlet apollo.lv is reporting that Lightning forward prospect Martins Karsums has signed a two-year contract with Dynamo Riga of the KHL. Karsums was loaned to Riga during last season, and has had a somewhat protracted negotiation process this summer to formally sign with his hometown club. Karsums and Riga agreed last week to a letter of intent. Training camp for the 2010-11 season started today and will last until July 30.
Karsums Nearing Contract with Dynamo Riga
Submitted by timothy on July 16, 2010 - 12:32Latvian media outlet Diena.lv is reporting that Bolt prospect forward Martins Karsums has signed a letter of intent with Dynamo Riga of the KHL.
Riga and Karsums have been locked in negotiations for much of the summer after Karsums finished the 2009-10 season with Riga, going 4-4-8 in 12 regular season games and 2-1-3 in 9 KHL playoff games. Karsums was loaned to Riga by the Lightning on January 17, 2010 and subsequently represented Team Latvia in the World Championships, scoring 3 goals and an assist in 6 WC games.
The 5'10" and 198 lb winger was expected to formally sign with Riga this season after spending the bulk of last season playing for the Lightning's AHL affiliate in Norfolk. Karsums finished up the 2008-09 season with Tampa after being acquired at the 2009 trade deadline from the Boston Bruins along with Matt Lashoff for Mark Recchi, and seemed poised to earn a regular NHL roster spot for 2009-10 season.
Riga is also reporting that they have signed longtime NHL goaltender Manny Legace, and have previously signed Lightning prospect forward Juraj Simek to a training camp try-out agreement.
Confirmed: Simek Signs Tryout Deal With Dynamo Riga
Submitted by pete on June 27, 2010 - 18:55The blog Latvian Hockey is confirming that forward Juraj Simek, who has played in the Lightning organization for the past two seasons with Norfolk, has signed a tryout deal with KHL club Dynamo Riga. Dynamo Riga was also the club last season for fellow Lightning prospect Martins Karsums.
World Championships Game Day: 5-18-10
Submitted by pete on May 18, 2010 - 18:55Relegation Round
USA 3 @ Italy 2 (SO)
Mike Lundin, USA, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Tournament totals: 6 GP, 0-1-1, E, 0 PIM
TJ Oshie scored the winning shootout goal for Team USA to complete a 3-2 win over Italy. USA went 3-0-0 in the Relegation Round, and will avoid relegation. Italy and Kazakhstan will be relegated in lieu of Austria and Slovenia in next year's World Championships. Lightning blueliner played 15:33 in the match for the Americans. Team USA's tournament is now completed. They finished 13th out of the 16 team field.
Qualifying Round
Slovakia 1 @ Germany 2
Richard Panik, Slovakia, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 0 SOG
Tournament totals: 6 GP, 0-2-2, +3, 6 PIM
Vladimir Mihalik, Slovakia, 0-0-0, -2, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Tournament totals: 6 GP, 1-0-1, -1, 4 PIM
Lightning blueline prospect Vladimir Mihalik was on the ice for both German goals as the home team defeated Slovakia 2-1. Mihalik played 17:39 in the match. Lightning forward prospect Richard Panik played 8:51 for the Slovaks, whose only goal came from Marek Svatos. Slovakia's tournament is now over. They finished 12th out of the 16 team field.
Canada 2 @ Czech Republic 3
Steven Stamkos, Canada, 0-0-0, E, 4 PIM, 2 SOG
Tournament totals: 4 GP, 2-1-3, +1, 6 PIM
Steve Downie, Canada, 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Tournament totals: 6 GP, 2-0-2, +2, 10 PIM
The Czech Republic got goals from Lukas Kaspar, Jaromir Jagr, and Jakub Klepis to defeat Canada 3-2. Lightning star forward Steven Stamkos returned from a concussion suffered against Switzerland to play 19:38 for the Canadians. He took minors for roughing and cross-checking in the match. Fellow Lightning forward Steve Downie played just 8:48. Canada will face Russia on Thursday in the quarterfinals.
Russia 5 @ Finland 0
Vasily Koshechkin, Russia, DNP
Tournament totals: 2 GP, 2-0-0, 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .969 sv%
Russia got 1 goal and 1 assist from Maxim Afinogenov en route to a 5-0 thumping of Finland. Semyon Varlamov had a 36 save shutout in the match. Lightning prospect goaltender Vasily Koshechkin did not play. Russia will face the Canadians on Thursday in the quarterfinals.
Switzerland 0 @ Sweden 5
Victor Hedman, Sweden, 1-0-1, +3, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Tournament totals: 6 GP, 1-1-2, +4, 2 PIM
Johan Harju, Sweden, 1-0-1, +1, 0 PIM, 2 SOG
Tournament totals: 6 GP, 3-0-3, +1, 2 PIM
Sweden got second period goals from Lightning contracted players Johan Harju and Victor Hedman on the way to an easy 5-0 win over Switzerland. Harju played 17:40 in the match while Hedman played 16:12. Harju's goal was his 3rd of the tournament after a disappointing KHL season where he scored just 4 goals all season for Dynamo Moscow. Sweden draws Denmark on Thursday in the quarterfinals.
Among other Lightning prospects, Kirill Gotovets' Belarus finished the tournament in 10th and Martins Karsums' Team Latvia finished 11th.
World Championships Game Day: 5-16-10
Submitted by pete on May 16, 2010 - 18:31Relegation Round
France 0 @ USA 4
Mike Lundin, USA, 0-1-1, +1, 0 PIM, 0 SOG
Tournament totals: 5 GP, 0-1-1, E, 0 PIM
Scott Clemmensen had a mind blowingly light 10 save shutout to move USA to 2-0-0 in the Relegation Round at the World Championships. Lightning defenseman Mike Lundin got his first point of the tournament in the match, a helper on a goal by Brandon Dubinsky, in 13:49 of ice time.
Qualifying Round
Denmark 1 @ Russia 6
Vasily Koshechkin, Russia, Win, 30/31, 1.00 GAA, .968 sv%
Tournament totals: 2 GP, 2-0-0, 0 SO, 1.00 GAA, .969 sv%
Pavel Datsyuk had 3 goals and 1 assist as Russia pummeled Denmark 6-1. Lightning prospect netminder Vasily Kosehchkin stopped 30 of 31 shots faced in his second start of the tournament. The effort knocked his gaudy save percentage down from a mark of .970 to a mere .969.
Latvia 5 @ Norway 0
Martins Karsums, Latvia, 0-0-0, +2, 0 PIM, 1 SOG
Tournament totals: 5 GP, 3-1-4, +5, 2 PIM
Latvia got 2 goals from Janis Sprukts as they dismantled Norway 5-0. Edgars Masalskis stopped all 30 shots he faced for the shutout for the Latvians. Lightning prospect forward Martins Karsums played 15:33 in the match.
Germany 1 @ Belarus 2 (OT)
Kirill Gotovets, Belarus, DNP
Tournament totals: 3 GP, 0-0-0, -2, 2 PIM
Belarus got an overtime goal from Alexei Kalyuzhny (easy for you to say) 4:45 into the extra session to upend home country Germany 2-1. Lightning prospect defenseman Kirill Gotovets did not dress for the match.
Sweden 3 @ Canada 1
Johan Harju, Sweden, 1-0-1, +1, 0 PIM, 3 SOG
Tournament toals: 5 GP, 2-0-2, E, 2 PIM
Victor Hedman, Sweden, 0-0-0, E, 2 PIM, 0 SOG
Tournament totals: 5 GP, 0-1-1, +1, 2 PIM
Steve Downie, Canada, 0-0-0, +1, 0 SOG
Tournament totals: 5 GP, 2-0-2, +2, 10 PIM
Steven Stamkos, Canada, DNP
Tournament totals: 3 GP, 2-1-3, +1, 2 PIM
"Big Joe" Harju opened to scoring for Sweden, which defeated Canada 3-1. Harju Played 16:35 in the match. Sweden also got a pair of goals by forward Jonas Andersson. Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman played 18:34 for the Swedes. At the other end of the ice, Lightning forward Steve Downie played 13:10 in the match and was on the ice for a goal by Brooks Laich, Canada's only goal of the match. Lightning star Steven Stamkos missed his second game after being concussed against Switzerland and ex-Lightning defenseman Timo Helbling.
