Forward Jānis Švanenbergs and goalkeeper Ēriks Vītols have signed full-fledged agreements with the Continental Hockey League (KHL) team Riga “Dinamo”, the unit reports.
Before that, the two young hockey players had probation contracts, but before the team went to the camp in Liepaja, full-fledged agreements were signed with the players. Schwanenberg has played for both Dinamo and the Russian Youth Hockey League (MHL) team Riga for the last two seasons. KHL’s 20-year-old striker has played in four games in the last two seasons, scoring four goals and scoring five times. Last year, they were selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) draft, but Schwanenberg did not cross the ocean due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Schwannenberg’s peer Vītols made his debut in KHL last year, repelling 85.9% of throws in four games and scoring an average of 5.41 goals. MHL had 91.1% rebounds in 42 fights and a 3.01 puck. On Monday, “Dinamo” started a training camp in Liepaja, where it will stay until August 4. Currently, 36 hockey players take part in training – four goalkeepers, 13 guards and 19 attackers. In preparation for the 2021/2022 KHL season, Dinamo will take part in a test tournament in Kazakhstan from 11 to 15 August, as well as two test matches in Finland on 19 and 20 August.
“Dinamo” head coach next season will be Russian specialist Sergey Zubov, but he will be assisted by Valery Kulibab, Oleg Orehovsky and Edgar Lushin. The Rigans have not played in the Gagarin Cup for seven consecutive seasons, remaining last place in the league last season. The composition of Riga “Dinamo” in preparation for the 2021/2022 season: goalkeepers – Matejs Mahovskis, Juhans Matsons, Ēriks Vītols, as well as “Rīga” goalkeeper Rūdolfs Lazdiņš; guards – Nerijus Ališauskas, Oskars Cibuļskis, Frank Korado, Kārlis Čukste, Ralfs Freibergs, Roberts Mamčics, Rīss Skārlets, Kristaps Sotnieks, Kristaps Zīle, with probation agreement Artūrs Brikmanis, as well as “Rīga” defenders Nikita Mateum attackers – Daniels Bērziņš, Rudolfs Červenijs, Lauris Dārziņš, Nikolajs Jeļisejevs, Jere Karjalainen, Mārtiņš Karsums, Gints Meija, Emīls Puarjē, Aleksandrs Protapovičs, Lukāšs Radils, Hunter Šinkaraks, Gunārs Skvorcovs Filips Buncis, Edgars Kulda and Mikus Mintautišķis, as well as “Rīga” striker Patriks Zabusovs.
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