Kristiāns Pelšs

Kristiāns Pelšs (9 September 1992 – 11 June 2013) was a Latvian ice hockey player. He was the son of poet and translator Einārs Pelšs. At the time of his death, he played for the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League.

Playing career Pelšs was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the 7th round (181st overall) of the 2010 NHL entry draft. He made his European Elite debut with DHK Latgale of the Belarusian Extraleague during the 2008–09 season. In 2010, he moved to North America and signed to play major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Pelšs participated at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships as a member of the Latvia men's national junior ice hockey team.

On 1 May 2012, it was announced that Pelšs signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

Death On 11 June 2013, Pelšs drowned in the Daugava River after leaping from the Stone Bridge in Riga, Latvia. It was confirmed that Pelšs' death was accidental.

The Oil Kings established the Kristians Pelss Memorial Award in his honour, which is given "to the player who best exemplifies the traits" of Pelss.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2008–09 DHK Latgale LHL 31 3 4 7 14 — — — — — 2009–10 Dinamo-Juniors Riga BXL 46 6 3 9 28 — — — — — 2010–11 Edmonton Oil Kings WHL 63 14 19 33 31 4 0 2 2 6 2011–12 Edmonton Oil Kings WHL 63 28 22 50 95 10 4 3 7 2 2012–13 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 20 1 7 8 8 — — — — — 2012–13 Stockton Thunder ECHL 13 2 3 5 15 — — — — — AHL totals 20 1 7 8 8 — — — — — ECHL totals 13 2 3 5 15 — — — — — WHL totals 126 42 41 83 126 21 5 7 12 10

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 2009 Latvia U18 D1 4 0 1 1 6 2010 Latvia U18 6 2 1 3 0 2011 Latvia WJC D1 5 2 2 4 31 2012 Latvia WJC 6 1 2 3 8 Junior totals 21 5 6 11 45