Raitis Ivanāns

Raitis Ivanāns (born January 3, 1979) is a Latvian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and was known primarily as an enforcer.

Playing career

In 1997, Ivanāns came over to North America and played for the Flint Generals. In 2005, he made his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens, accumulating 9 penalty minutes in 4 games. He got into a fight in his second game, against the Ottawa Senators, with Zdeno Chára, and sustained a broken orbital bone due to a late punch after he was down.

On July 13, 2006, he signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings. Ivanāns scored his first NHL goal against Marty Turco the Dallas Stars on October 12, 2006. On March 18, 2007, he signed a one-year, one-way deal with the Los Angeles Kings.

On January 29, 2008, Ivanāns signed a two-year contract extension with the Kings. In each of his four consecutive seasons in Los Angeles, Ivanāns led the team in penalty minutes.

On July 1, 2010, Raitis signed a two-year deal as a free agent with the Calgary Flames, and made his Flames debut on October 7, 2010 in the 2010-11 season opening against Edmonton Oilers; however he suffered a debilitating concussion during a third period fight with Oilers' heavyweight Steve MacIntyre.

On October 20, 2011, Ivanāns was sent to the Abbotsford Heat by Calgary, where he scored his first goal of the season on November 11 against the Texas Stars.

On May 22, 2012, Ivanans signed a two-year deal with Dinamo Rīga of the Kontinental Hockey League. During the 2012-13 season, he failed to establish a lasting role in 39 games with Riga, and was released prior to the second year of his contract.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1996–97 Juniors Rīga EEHL 3 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 1996–97 Juniors Rīga LVA 5 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 1996–97 Aurora Tigers MetJHL 25 4 7 11 20 — — — — — 1997–98 HK Liepājas Metalurgs EEHL 4 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 1997–98 Flint Generals UHL 18 0 1 1 20 — — — — — 1998–99 Macon Whoopee CHL 16 1 1 2 20 — — — — — 1998–99 Tulsa Oilers CHL 32 2 7 9 39 — — — — — 1999–2000 Pensacola Ice Pilots ECHL 59 3 7 10 146 2 0 0 0 0 2000–01 New Haven Knights UHL 66 4 10 14 270 8 1 0 1 4 2000–01 Hershey Bears AHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2001–02 Toledo Storm ECHL 16 2 2 4 59 — — — — — 2001–02 Baton Rouge Kingfish ECHL 40 4 5 9 180 — — — — — 2002–03 Rockford IceHogs UHL 50 4 2 6 208 — — — — — 2002–03 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 17 0 0 0 38 1 0 0 0 15 2003–04 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 54 1 7 8 166 7 0 1 1 17 2004–05 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 75 2 5 7 259 2 0 1 1 0 2005–06 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 43 2 0 2 120 — — — — — 2005–06 Montreal Canadiens NHL 4 0 0 0 9 — — — — — 2006–07 Los Angeles Kings NHL 66 4 4 8 140 — — — — — 2007–08 Los Angeles Kings NHL 73 6 2 8 134 — — — — — 2008–09 Los Angeles Kings NHL 76 2 0 2 145 — — — — — 2009–10 Los Angeles Kings NHL 61 0 0 0 136 1 0 0 0 0 2010–11 Calgary Flames NHL 1 0 0 0 5 — — — — — 2011–12 Calgary Flames NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2011–12 Abbotsford Heat AHL 27 2 3 5 37 — — — — — 2012–13 Dinamo Riga KHL 39 0 1 1 84 — — — — — NHL totals 282 12 6 18 569 1 0 0 0 0

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1999 Latvia WJC B 15th 6 0 1 1 6 2008 Latvia WC 11th 6 0 0 0 31 Junior totals 6 0 1 1 6 Senior totals 6 0 0 0 31

Awards and honours Award Year AHL Calder Cup 2004