Edgars Kulda

Edgars Kulda (born 13 November 1994) is a Latvian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for Dinamo Riga in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected 193rd overall in the 2014 NHL entry draft by the Arizona Coyotes. He played in Latvian minor and youth leagues.

Playing career

Junior Kulda began playing hockey in BHS hockey school and founded by former Dinamo Rīga player Helmuts Balderis.

In 2011–12 season Kulda moved to North America to play for Edmonton Oil Kings of WHL. His most successful season as Oil King was 2013–14, when Oil Kings won Memorial Cup and Kulda received Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as Memorial Cup Most Valuable Player.

Professional In 2015–16 season Kulda moved back to Latvia and joined his hometown club Dinamo Riga of KHL. He made his KHL debut on 3 September 2015, in overtime loss against Medveščak Zagreb.

After a three year absence, highlighted with a lone season with PSG Berani Zlín of the Czech Extraliga, Kulda returned to Dinamo Riga on a one-year contract as a free agent on 7 August 2021.

International play Kulda represented Latvia in junior and U18 championships. In 2016, he made his debut in 2016 World Championships in opening match overtime loss against Sweden.

Personal life Edgars Kulda is the younger brother of Arturs Kulda.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2009–10 SK Rīga 18 LAT U18 17 36 27 63 8 — — — — — 2011–12 HK Rīga MHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2011–12 HK Juniors Rīga MHL B 33 15 11 26 81 7 2 9 11 4 2011–12 HK Juniors Rīga LAT 25 21 15 36 18 5 3 2 5 0 2012–13 Edmonton Oil Kings WHL 64 6 11 17 34 22 2 12 14 10 2013–14 Edmonton Oil Kings WHL 66 30 30 60 57 21 10 12 22 12 2014–15 Edmonton Oil Kings WHL 47 13 17 30 35 5 0 2 2 4 2015–16 Dinamo Rīga KHL 39 4 3 7 23 — — — — — 2016–17 Dinamo Rīga KHL 39 3 6 9 6 — — — — — 2017–18 Dinamo Rīga KHL 31 1 0 1 33 — — — — — 2017–18 HK Liepāja LAT — — — — — 5 2 3 5 0 2018–19 PSG Berani Zlín ELH 52 11 11 22 32 5 0 0 0 2 2019–20 Saryarka Karaganda VHL 37 12 8 20 16 6 2 1 3 0 2020–21 Metallurg Novokuznetsk VHL 41 8 8 16 14 14 2 5 7 5 2021–22 Dinamo Rīga KHL 18 0 3 3 6 — — — — — 2021–22 HK Zemgale/LLU LAT 16 10 20 30 4 10 4 8 12 0 KHL totals 127 8 12 20 68 — — — — —

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2012 Latvia WJC18 9th 6 1 1 2 14 2013 Latvia WJC 10th 6 2 4 6 0 2014 Latvia WJC D1A 12th 5 1 6 7 2 2016 Latvia WC 13th 7 0 0 0 0 Junior totals 29 8 15 23 22 Senior totals 7 0 0 0 0

Awards and honours Award Year RefWHL Memorial Cup champion 2014 Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy 2014