HK Kurbads

In 1996 not only Latvia’s National ice hockey team won B division and advanced to Elite level world championship but also it is the year hockey club Kurbads is founded. HC Kurbads is the dream of mythological hero Jānis Šīraks and team’s captain Andis Pikāns. The dream that started playing ice hockey on Ķīšezers and local sports school. Many company’s “Kurbads and CO” clients and other ice hockey fans, who are somehow connected with car sales and transports, were invited to play in the team. In 1999 our team in the city where wind is born Liepāja organizes a “Kurbads” cup. Great team play allows club to win its own tournament. New milleniem starts with drop in results. Club switches from amateur league to Independent amateur league organized by Oskars Miljons. Team struggles in its first year. In 2000 team keeps playing in Independent amateur league without much success. It also fails in Agni cup. After unlucky Kurbads does not give up and changes its roster a lot. In 2001 team changes coaches. Aleksandrs Veselovs is replaced by Oļegs Jurenko, who brings new ideas on the team. Kurbads returns in new quality and fulfills its motto: “The men are back!”. Team finishes in 2nd place in Independent amateur league’s regular season but wins the cup. This season Kurbads for second time goes to exhibition games in Finland, making it a tradition. In 2002 Independent hockey league expands with 4 divisions and Kurbads fights for win in strongest group – Superleague. This battle for title is closely followed by yellow and blue Kurbads fans who are everywhere chanting team’s motto: “The men are here!” In spring 2003 with help from former Latvian national team player Normunds Sējējs HC Kurbads travel to Slovakia, where team is examined by Slovakia second division clubs. Achieving one victory and two losses, but getting priceless experience. December 2003 Kurbads takes part in Tallinn Cup 2003, where they easily win the tournament beating their long time rivals HC “Anatta” in final 10:3. After closing ceremony Kurbads is invited to participate again in next year’s tournament Tallinn Foster Cup 2004. Also in this season hockey friend Viesturs Koziols organizes cup challenge for best Latvian clubs (without top league teams). In the finals Kurbads beats its long time rivals HK “Anatta” 5:2. In fall Kurbads wins yet another tournament – this time it is FOSTER’S cup 2004, beating two strongest clubs of Estonia – HC “Panther” and HC “Tartu Valk 494”, and also team from Finnish second division HT “Vantaan Kiekoo”. After game Finnish team’s head coach is fired. For 2004/2005 season HC Kurbads steps up one step in Latvian hockey hierarchy and takes part in Rigas Open hockey championship, where they sensationally finish first, so they get promoted to the Everest in hockey of Latvia – they are invited to play in Latvijas Virslīga. Highest possible level of hockey in country. But as club is semiprofessional and every player has its own job outside hockey, club rejects the offer allowing DHK “Latgale” to play in Elite division. Kurbads pursues its dream to win a title. Minor roster changes and signing former National team star players Rodrigo Laviņs and Aleksandrs Macijevskis. Team is ready to fight for the title. Team once more gets through to the finals but loses to Mogo in six games. Silver medals. This season doesn’t change anything – team aims to win Latvian Champion title and Latvian cup! Road to Latvian cup was without problems. In the Final everything looks good until 2 minutes until the final whistle when “Mogo” team equalizes and later scores in overtime. In Latvian league regular season team in the last game of the season gets 2nd place that allows to start series from semifinals. HK “Zemgale/LLU” in a real battle is beaten by 3-2. In the finals we face “Mogo” again. First three games are real struggle as Mogo always wins in a close battle. 0-3 after first three games. Then the team comes together and turns around the series, winnin