Ņikita Jevpalovs

Ņikita Jevpalovs (born 9 September 1994) is a Latvian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Boxers de Bordeaux in the Ligue Magnus (FRA).

Playing career

Jevpavlos spent his junior career between Canada and Latvia, mostly playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. Undrafted, on 1 January 2015, he was signed by San Jose Sharks to a two-year entry-level agreement.

In his rookie professional season in 2015–16, Jevpavlovs was reassigned by the Sharks between the ECHL and AHL playing for the Allen Americans and San Jose Barracuda. In the following 2016–17 season, he exclusively played with the Barracuda, notching a professional high 13 goals and 21 points in 65 games.

At the expiration of his contract with the Sharks, Jevpalovs was not tendered a qualifying offer and returned to Latvia to play for Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League on 4 July 2017. He made his KHL debut in the 2017–18 season opening match against Avangard Omsk, and scored his first goal on 31 August in a defeat to Spartak Moscow. He completed the season scoring just 5 goals and 8 points in 46 games.

As a free agent, Jevpalovs opted for a return to North America, agreeing to a one-year AHL contract with the Laval Rocket, affiliate to the Montreal Canadiens on 1 July 2018. After scoring a career-high 25 points in the AHL, Jevpalovs signed a subsequent one-year, one-way contract with Laval.

Following his second season with the Laval Rocket and with the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the 2020–21 North American season, Jevpalovs opted to remain in Europe by signing a one-year contract with Austrian outfit, the Dornbirn Bulldogs, on 1 September 2020.

International play Jevpavlos represented Latvia on junior level. He was selected by Bob Hartley for 2018 world championships roster. He made his WC debut on opening game against Norway.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2010–11 South Muskoka Shield GMHL 41 48 43 91 28 16 9 18 27 16 2011–12 HK Riga MHL 58 8 13 21 52 1 1 0 1 2 2012–13 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada QMJHL 60 18 21 39 26 15 3 5 8 2 2013–14 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada QMJHL 61 28 26 54 32 20 10 6 16 8 2014–15 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada QMJHL 64 49 51 100 32 5 1 5 6 4 2015–16 San Jose Barracuda AHL 60 5 9 14 12 3 1 0 1 0 2015–16 Allen Americans ECHL 5 1 5 6 2 15 2 6 8 10 2016–17 San Jose Barracuda AHL 65 13 8 21 41 11 0 0 0 6 2017–18 Dinamo Riga KHL 46 5 3 8 10 — — — — — 2018–19 Laval Rocket AHL 69 13 12 25 38 — — — — — 2019–20 Laval Rocket AHL 53 9 13 22 24 — — — — — 2020–21 Dornbirn Bulldogs ICEHL 49 15 22 37 22 6 0 1 1 2 2021–22 Dornbirn Bulldogs ICEHL 38 11 4 15 20 — — — — — KHL totals 46 5 8 3 10 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2011 Latvia WJC18 9th 6 1 2 3 0 2012 Latvia WJC 9th 6 2 3 5 4 2013 Latvia WJC 10th 6 2 1 3 8 2014 Latvia WJC-D1 12th 5 4 5 9 4 2018 Latvia WC 8th 8 0 0 0 0 Junior totals 23 9 11 20 16 Senior totals 8 0 0 0 0