Lauris Prikulis
@prikulis5

If there ever was a goalie that could match Jakub Aittokallio during this time, it was Lauris Prikulis. Dominating the SHL in the late S10’s and early to mid S20’s, Prikulis was the backbone of Winnipeg's team. Prikulis may have not had as long of a career as Jakub, but his dominance was just on par if not better than Jakub.
Starting off in S14, Lauris had a good rookie season. Posting 23-18-3 with 4 shutouts, and a .89 SV%, Prikulis was starting his career on the right track. (MORE HERE)
This first big season came in S19, right when Winnipeg needed him the most. After a couple of decent but not great seasons, Winnipeg was in need of a great winning season. In S16&17 after not missing the playoffs, and S18 where they lost to the Riot in game 7. S19 has to be great in order for the wheels not to fall off. Prikilus showed up, and delivered his first great season.

Posting 24-18-2 with 7 shutouts and a .917 SV%. Prikulis won the McBride, was an All Star. Most importantly though, helped carry Winnipeg to the finals, and eventually won his first Challenge Cup. He also won the Anton Razov too for playoff MVP.  Beating Calgary in 7, Seattle in 5, and then Hamilton in 6 to win it all. Prikulis showed that he was a rising star for goalies.

S20 he proved it again, going 23-16-5, with 3 shutouts and a .917 SV% again. Getting a nomination for the Mcbride and 2nd all star to go along with it. Winnipeg unfortunately lost to Edmonton in 7 games during the 1st round.

S21 he got his 3rd consecutive McBride nomination, going 18-22-6 with 1 shutout and a .912 SV%. Winnipeg as a whole was struggling, but Prikulis was not. Giving strong performance after strong performance.

S22 was his best season, at least in the regular season. After a disappointing season, they really turned it around, with Prikilus going 31-11-4, with 2 shutouts and an insane .924 SV%. With all of that, Prikilus got the honors of 1st All Star, Winning his 2nd John McBride, Winning the Sarmad Khan, and Winning his 1st Ron Mexico. Becoming the 2nd goalie ever to win one.

S23 and S24 were good seasons for him, but nothing like the S19-S22 run he went on. Posting sv% of .902 and .905, he had average seasons. Not for long however, he was about to replicate another all star season.
S25 looked like a mirror image to S19, where he and Winnipeg won it all. Going 27-12-5 in the regular season, with 6 shutouts and a .918 SV%. In the regular season Prikilus won his first Mike honcho, won his 3rd McBride, and was 1st All Star. In the playoffs, Winnipeg beat Edmonton in 5, Seattle in 6, and West Kendall(now Baltimore) in 7 games to win the Challenge Cup. Prikulis won his 2nd Challenge Cup of his career, and was nominated for the Anton Razov trophy as well.

S26 was also another great season for Prikulus, going 26-13-5 , with 3 shutouts and a .908 SV%. Getting his 6th McBride nomination, and 3rd All Star.
With S27 being his last season, he struggled. Going 22-21-1, with 4 shutouts and a .89 SV%. The first time he went below a .900 SV% in his career since S16. He called it a career

Not many goalies can claim a career like his. When retired he was 2nd all time in wins with 318. Posting a career SV% of .907, 3 McBride nominations and 3 McBride wins. Winning the Ron Mexico once, winning 2 cups, being playoff  MVP. It makes sense why he is on the list so high up.