Artūrs Kulda

Artūrs Kulda (born 25 July 1988) is a Latvian professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for EC VSV of the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL). He is the older brother of Edgars Kulda.

Playing career Kulda was a seventh-round 200th selection of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2006. He made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut with the Thrashers on 12 February 2010 against the Minnesota Wild. He was a member of the Chicago Wolves' Calder Cup championship team in 2008.

While playing for Latvia at the 2011 World Championships, in Bratislava, Slovakia, Kulda checked Radek Martínek of the Czech Republic into the boards, knocking him unconscious and requiring him to be hospitalized. Kulda was suspended three games for the hit because he made contact with Martínek's head and left his feet to deliver the hit.

On 15 July 2012, Kulda signed a one-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk of the Kontinental Hockey League. At the end of 2012–13 season with Novosibirsk, Kulda signed a pro-rated one-year contract to return with the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL. Kulda did not dress for any game before returning abroad.

On 15 July 2013, Kulda signed a two-year contract with his second KHL club, Salavat Yulaev Ufa.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2003–04 Prizma/Rīga 86 LAT 11 0 0 0 8 2 0 0 0 0 2004–05 SDYUSHOR CSKA Moscow MosJHL 25 1 11 12 14 — — — — — 2005–06 CSKA–2 Moscow RUS.3 40 3 9 12 24 — — — — — 2005–06 SDYUSHOR CSKA Moscow MosJHL 2 0 2 2 2 — — — — — 2006–07 Peterborough Petes OHL 58 2 9 11 83 — — — — — 2007–08 Peterborough Petes OHL 55 7 27 34 87 5 1 3 4 6 2007–08 Chicago Wolves AHL 5 0 1 1 10 21 1 4 5 32 2008–09 Chicago Wolves AHL 57 1 14 15 59 — — — — — 2009–10 Chicago Wolves AHL 66 6 19 25 46 14 1 4 5 8 2009–10 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 4 0 2 2 2 — — — — — 2010–11 Chicago Wolves AHL 69 5 12 17 73 — — — — — 2010–11 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2011–12 St. John's IceCaps AHL 63 6 14 20 62 13 0 1 1 8 2011–12 Winnipeg Jets NHL 9 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 2012–13 Sibir Novosibirsk KHL 50 9 6 15 55 7 0 1 1 0 2013–14 Salavat Yulaev Ufa KHL 43 1 9 10 42 18 1 4 5 18 2014–15 Salavat Yulaev Ufa KHL 45 4 5 9 28 5 0 0 0 2 2015–16 Jokerit KHL 42 1 5 6 36 6 0 0 0 4 2016–17 Jokerit KHL 44 0 11 11 28 3 0 1 1 4 2017–18 Kunlun Red Star KHL 47 2 4 6 33 — — — — — 2017–18 HC Sparta Praha ELH 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 2018–19 Severstal Cherepovets KHL 59 2 5 7 42 — — — — — 2019–20 Dinamo Rīga KHL 6 0 2 2 0 — — — — — 2019–20 Severstal Cherepovets KHL 20 1 4 5 8 — — — — — 2020–21 Nürnberg Ice Tigers DEL 33 1 17 18 40 — — — — — 2021–22 Krefeld Pinguine DEL 55 4 9 13 30 — — — — — 2022–23 EC VSV ICEHL 46 5 20 25 51 5 0 0 0 2 NHL totals 15 0 2 2 8 — — — — — KHL totals 356 20 51 71 272 39 1 6 7 28

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 2004 Latvia WJC18 D1 5 0 1 1 6 2005 Latvia WJC18 D1 5 0 2 2 18 2006 Latvia WJC 6 0 1 1 6 2006 Latvia WJC18 D1 5 1 2 3 12 2007 Latvia WJC D1 5 0 2 2 27 2008 Latvia WJC D1 5 1 4 5 12 2010 Latvia WC 3 0 0 0 2 2011 Latvia WC 3 0 0 0 6 2013 Latvia OGQ 3 0 0 0 0 2013 Latvia WC 7 1 1 2 8 2014 Latvia OG 5 0 1 1 2 2014 Latvia WC 6 4 1 5 4 2016 Latvia OGQ 3 0 0 0 0 2017 Latvia WC 7 0 1 1 6 2019 Latvia WC 7 0 1 1 2 2021 Latvia WC 4 0 0 0 2 2022 Latvia OG 3 0 0 0 0 2022 Latvia WC 5 1 0 1 4 Junior totals 31 2 12 14 81 Senior totals 56 6 5 11 36