Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Nickname(s)	Archie
Height Weight	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 190 lb (86 kg)
Pro Clubs	San Jose Sharks Dallas Stars Vancouver Canucks Carolina Hurricanes
Nationality	Latvia
Born	February 02, 1967 (1967-02-02) (age 40), Riga, Soviet Union
NHL Draft	10th Round 196th overall, 1989 Minnesota North Stars
Pro Career	1991 – 2004

Artūrs Irbe (born February 2, 1967 in Riga, Latvia) is a Latvian former professional Hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League who played for the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks and Carolina Hurricanes. The position an ice hockey player plays can be divided into three basic categories: Forwards Centre Wingers Defenceman Goaltender ... This article is about the goaltender in ice hockey. ... There are three styles of gloves worn by ice hockey players. ... // A nickname is a name of a person or thing other than its proper name. ... Archie may refer to: Archie Andrews (puppet) -- Ventriloquists puppet Archie Bunker -- a sitcom character from the 1970s. ... “Stature” redirects here. ... Weight, in the context of human body weight measurements in the medical sciences and in sports is a measurement of mass, and is thus expressed in units of mass, such as kilograms (kg), or units of force such as pounds (lb). ... The pound (abbreviations: lb or, sometimes in the United States, #) is a unit of mass (called weight in everyday parlance) in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The U.S. National Prototype Kilogram, which currently serves as the primary standard for measuring mass in the U.S. It was assigned to the United States in 1889 and is periodically recertified and traceable to the primary international standard, The Kilogram, held at the Bureau International des Poids et... The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. ... The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. ... The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. ... The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. ... In English usage, nationality is the legal relationship between a person and a country. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Latvia. ... A childs first birthday party. ... February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... Coordinates: Founded 1201 Government  - Mayor Jānis Birks Area  - City 307. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The NHL Entry Draft is a collective meeting in which the franchises of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur players who meet the eligibility requirements to play professional hockey in the NHL. // The first NHL Amateur Draft was held on June 5, 1963 at the... The 1989 NHL Entry Draft was held in June at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, Minnesota . ... The Minnesota North Stars were a team in the National Hockey League between 1967 and 1993. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... Coordinates: Founded 1201 Government  - Mayor Jānis Birks Area  - City 307. ... Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. ... This article is about the goaltender in ice hockey. ... “NHL” redirects here. ... The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. ... The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. ... The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. ... The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. ...

Playing career

Artūrs Irbe was drafted in the 10th round, 196th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft His first professional hockey team was Dinamo Riga of the Soviet League (from 1987 to 1991). After playing in only 2 games during the 1986-1987 season Irbe got a chance to become Dinamo Riga's number one goaltender during the 1987-1988 season when their starting goaltender and Olympic champion, Vitaliy Samoylov went down with a long term injury. In his only full professional season, Irbe was outstanding in helping Dinamo Riga make it to the finals of the Soviet Elite League where they eventually lost to perennial Soviet champions CSKA Moscow. For the 2006-07 season, Irbe signed with the Riga 20 of the Latvian Elite League. In November 2006 rumours appeared that Irbe would be joining Avangard Omsk of the Russian League. A few days later it proved to be just a hoax and soon Irbe left Riga for Slovakian elite league club "Oil Nitra". After playing only a few games in Slovakia he got fired thus (as it seems at the moment) ending Irbe's player career. The Minnesota North Stars were a team in the National Hockey League between 1967 and 1993. ... The 1989 NHL Entry Draft was held in June at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, Minnesota . ... Dinamo Riga was an ice hockey club in Riga, Latvia. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Dinamo Riga was an ice hockey club in Riga, Latvia. ... Dinamo Riga was an ice hockey club in Riga, Latvia. ... HC CSKA Moscow (Central Sports Army Hockey Club Moscow, Russian: ХК ЦСКА Москва) is a Russian ice hockey club. ... HC Avangard Omsk (ru: Авангард Омск) is a professional Russian ice hockey team. ...

During this period he also played for the Soviet Union in the World Championships in 1989 and 1990. The Soviet team won those two championships and Irbe was honoured as the best goalkeeper of the 1990 tournament. He refused to play for the Soviet Union in 1991 because Latvia had proclaimed independence from the Soviet Union in May 4, 1990 and the Soviet government attempted to use military force in January 1991 to stop Latvia's independence. The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual event put together by the IIHF, the International Ice Hockey Federation, since 1930. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 124th day of the year (125th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ...

In the 1988-89 season Irbe travelled to North America with his then club Dinamo Riga to play in a series of exhibition games against NHL teams. The next season (1989-90) he was temporarily added to the CSKA Moscow team during an exhibition tour of North America. Dinamo Riga was an ice hockey club in Riga, Latvia. ... NHL can also be an abbreviation for National Historic Landmark or Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. ... HC CSKA Moscow (Central Sports Army Hockey Club Moscow, Russian: ХК ЦСКА Москва) is a Russian ice hockey club. ...

His NHL career began in 1991. His first NHL team was the San Jose Sharks, he played with them from 1990-91 to 1995-96. With Irbe between the pipes, the newly established Sharks made their first playoff appearance in the 1993-94 season and upset the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings. That season Irbe played an NHL record 4412 minutes between the pipes for the Sharks. Irbe, affectionately known as Archie, was nicknamed "The Wall" and became a cult figure in San Jose, a status he enjoys there to this day. The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. ... The 1990-91 NHL season was the 74th regular season of the National Hockey League. ... The 1995-96 NHL season was the 79th regular season of the National Hockey League. ... The 1993-94 NHL season was the 77th regular season of the National Hockey League. ... The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. ... Archie may refer to: Archie Andrews (puppet) -- Ventriloquists puppet Archie Bunker -- a sitcom character from the 1970s. ...

Following an injury (his hand being mauled by his pet dog in the offseason) and a poor 1995-96 season, Irbe was released by the Sharks. For the next two years, he was a backup goaltender for the Dallas Stars and the Vancouver Canucks until he became the starter for the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1998-99. Irbe was picked to be a member of the "World" NHL All-Star team in 1998-1999 season, where he became the first goalie to record an assist in a NHL All-Star game. The highest point of his career with the Hurricanes was 2001-02 when Irbe was instrumental in leading the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup finals where they fell to the Detroit Red Wings. In June 2004 he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. After being traded to Blue Jackets Arturs did not play any games in the NHL. During the 2004-2005 NHL Lockout Arturs didn't play. After the lockout Arturs played for HK Riga 2000 in Latvia and EC Red Bulls Salzburg in Austria. Recently, he has signed with HK Dynamax Nitra playing in the Slovak Ice Hockey Extraliga, but he decided to leave after his unsatisfactory results. The 1995-96 NHL season was the 79th regular season of the National Hockey League. ... The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. ... The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. ... The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. ... The 1998-99 NHL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Hockey League. ... The 2001-02 NHL season was the 85th regular season of the National Hockey League. ... The Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup (French: ) is the championship trophy of the National Hockey League (NHL), the major professional ice hockey league in Canada and the United States. ... The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. ... Hockey Klub Dynamax OIL Nitra is a professional ice hockey team in the Slovak Extraliga. ... Slovak Extraliga is the name of the highest-level ice hockey league in Slovakia. ...

He is notable on the ice for his helmet and padding - he has worn them almost continuously since his NHL debut for the Sharks - which are creased and scuffed with puck marks, stains, and tears. He has earned the nickname "Michelin Man" as a result. Michelin logo Compagnie Générale des Établissements Michelin, based in Clermont-Ferrand, France, is primarily a tire manufacturer. ...

In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Irbe was Latvia's flag-bearer in the opening ceremonies. Neve and Gliz, the 2006 Olympics mascots, on display in Turin The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, were celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. ... Location Region Piedmont Province Torino Area   – Total   – Water 130 km² (50 mi²) ##.# km² (#.# mi²) #.##% Population   – Total (2002)   – Density 857,433 6,596/km² Time zone CET: UTC+1 Latitude Longitude   45°04N 7°40E (##.#######, -##.#######)1. ...

Awards & achievements

• 1985- European Junior Championships, best goalie
• 1988- Soviet League, rookie of the year
• 1990- World Championships, best goalie
• 1992- Played in IHL All-Star Game
• 1992- Recipient of IHL's James Norris Memorial Trophy as best goaltender.(Shared with Wade Flaherty)
• 1994- Played in NHL All-Star Game
• 1999- Played in NHL All-Star Game
• 2002- Starting goalie for Latvia in Salt Lake City Winter Olympics
• 2002- Made it to NHL Stanley Cup Final. Defeated in five games.
• 2006- Starting goalie for Latvia in Torino Winter Olympics
• 2006- Selected as flag bearer for Latvia in 2006 Winter Olympics.

Arturs Irbe is also a member of board of directors of the Kids First Fund, a non-profit organization based in the United States which raises money for projects assisting abused and abandoned children in Latvia (www.KidsFirstFund.org). Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Career statistics

 REGULAR SEASON Year Team GP Min W L T GA GAA Shots Sv% ShO PiM S/60 PERS 3STARS 84-85 Dynamo Riga USSRJr Soviet Union EURO JUNIOR 5 300 5 1.00 0 85-86 Dynamo Riga USSRJr 86-87 Dynamo Riga USSRJr Dynamo Riga USSR 2 27 1 2.22 0 87-88 Dynamo Riga USSR 34 1870 84 2.70 0 88-89 Dynamo Riga USSR 40 2460 116 2.85 0 Dynamo Riga SUPER SERIES 7 425 23 3.25 89-90 Dynamo Riga USSR 48 2880 116 2.42 0 CSKA Moscow SUPER SERIES 4 240 10 2.50 Soviet Union WORLD 6 315 4 0 1 5 0.95 1 90-91 Dynamo Riga USSR 46 2713 133 2.94 0 91-92 Kansas City Blades IHL 32 1955 24 7 1 80 2.46 0 San Jose Sharks NHL 13 645 2 6 3 48 4.47 365 .868 0 92-93 Kansas City Blades IHL 6 364 3 3 0 20 3.30 0 San Jose Sharks NHL 36 2074 7 26 0 142 4.11 1250 .886 1 93-94 San Jose Sharks NHL 74 4412 30 28 16 209 2.84 2064 .899 3 94-95 San Jose Sharks NHL 38 2043 14 19 3 111 3.26 1056 .895 4 95-96 San Jose Sharks NHL 22 1111 4 12 4 85 4.59 607 .860 0 Kansas City Blades IHL 4 226 1 2 1 16 4.25 0 Latvia WORLD-B 4 240 3 0 1 7 1.75 0 96-97 Dallas Stars NHL 35 1964 17 12 3 88 2.69 825 .893 3 Latvia WORLD 5 300 4 0 1 10 2.00 1 97-98 Vancouver Canucks NHL 41 1999 14 11 6 91 2.73 982 .907 2 Latvia WORLD 6 358 3 2 1 17 2.85 1 98-99 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 62 3643 27 20 12 135 2.22 1753 .923 6 Latvia WORLD 4 238 12 3.02 86 .860 0 99-00 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 75 4345 34 28 9 175 2.42 1858 .906 5 Latvia WORLD 5 420 3 1 1 17 2.43 180 .907 00-01 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 77 4406 37 29 9 180 2.45 1947 .908 6 Latvia WORLD 6 360 13 2.17 159 .924 01-02 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 51 2974 20 19 11 126 2.54 1282 .902 3 Latvia OLYMPICS 1 60 0 1 0 4 4.00 29 .862 0 02-03 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 34 1884 7 24 2 100 3.18 816 .877 0 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 7 426 3 3 1 21 2.95 229 .908 0 03-04 Johnstown Chiefs ECHL 14 847 10 3 1 30 2.13 411 .927 1 Carolina Hurricanes 10 564 5 2 1 23 2.45 228 .899 0 04-05 Latvia WORLD 6 283 2 2 1 7 1.48 124 .944 2 2007 Hk Dynamax Oil Nitra (SVK) 6 249 1 2 0 22 5.31 96 .814 0 THIRTEEN (13) NHL SEASONS 568 32066 218 236 79 1513 2.83 15033 0.899 33 

International play

Played for Latvia in:

• 1991 World Ice Hockey Championships
• 2002 Winter Olympics (Did not advance from preliminaries)
• 2006 Winter Olympics (Did not advance from preliminaries)

Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation since 1930. ... 2002 Winter Olympic Games Ice hockey games were held at the E Center and Peaks Ice Arena in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah. ... Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics was held at the Torino Palasport Olimpico and the Torino Esposizioni in Turin, Italy. ...

External links

• NHL player page
• Hockey Goalies Profile
• Kids First Fund home page
• HockeyDB