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KenitohMenara · 02-02-2021, 03:20 PM

**1252 Words - 50/50 Split @KenitohMenara and @Lukstins88

“I’m from Riga, capital of Latvia. My parents wanted me to be an active kid so since I could walk I played different kinds of sports with friends. In the summer I played summer sports like basketball, football (soccer), ran and swam a lot. In the winters it was always hockey, played with friends on frozen lakes. And I very much enjoyed it, so after one that kind of game with friends I said to my parents I want to be a hockey player. They supported me. Of course the start wasn’t easy emotionally and financially, but we managed through it. My family supported me then and they support me now.”

In the Lux clan, family is everything. It is a clan that has built their lives up over 300 years of work. Everything the family earns, it shares with the others, helping build every member to help them reach their goals. For the youngest son of the clan, Janis, his goal was in sports. The natural landscapes of his home in Riga gave Janis endless possibilities for sports and as the active child that he was, he was involved in basically all of them. Like many boys born in Latvia, he eventually settled into the most populous sport in the country. Ice Hockey. What he hadn’t realized at the time was that his parents had been building him up to be a future hockey star.

“I would describe him as a defensive wall with a cannon shot.” said Guntis Andersons, Janis’s first junior coach. “He’s a more defensively minded winger than most defensemen I have trained. He will not let you down.”

Even in the crowded and hectic world of lativian hockey, Janis would stand out amongst his peers with his play. Defense is often a lost art when it comes to winger prospects, as more often than not, young wingers are trying and often failing to come up with big plays to please scouts. Janis decided to focus on defense and soon started standing out in a big way, so much so that when it was time for him to pursue major junior leagues, he was immediately offered a contract by his hometown club, HS Riga.

“We were looking down the names of players we could sign and there was Janis just sitting there. We were shocked to learn that he was still available.” said Agatons Veinbergs, then GM of HS Riga. “Here was this highly successful local player that was just waiting for a bigger stage. Of course we offered him a contract.”

With one contract, HS Riga went on to become one of the best teams in the Latvian Junior leagues. The impact of Janis cannot be understated. The now 6ft 2 inch, 208 pound winger is the rock of any formation he’s on, no matter if it's on Power Play, Penalty Kill or 5 on 5, he has his eyes on where the puck is at all times. His defensive instincts are second to none so he’s a nightmare for forwards and offensive defenseman to deal with or get around. When he does have the puck, he uses his lightning quick release to find open teammates that are storming up the ice with great effect and if he’s the one receiving the shot, his accuracy will often secure goals. His best trait though is his stamina, something that his manager noticed very quickly, to the point where he led HS Riga in time on ice multiple seasons over.

After 3 seasons of play with Riga, Janis was ready for his next big challenge, the SMJHL. Despite high performances, there were question marks regarding him. Latvia wasn’t known for producing great players in the major leagues which was the biggest mark against him so he started slipping down the draft board. Janis told us how difficult it was for him:

“Draft night was emotional, because you never know if you will be on board or not. You know that you deserve to be there but I don’t make decisions. Of course when picks rolled in more and more and you still aren’t on board it is a little bit scary, like “I’m not too good” or “I don’t want to play hockey anymore”. All those thoughts were depressive. So full emotional gamma.”

The draft went on and on until the 5th round when GM Igor Victory of the reigning SMJHL champions Anchorage Armada stepped up to the podium:

“With the 59th pick of the S58 SMJHL entry draft, the Anchorage Armada select Janis Lux. Left Winger, Latvia.”

The waiting was over. Janis had been drafted. As he stepped up to receive his new jersey, a flurry of emotions went through him:

“No doubt it was very emotional. Of course the first thing I did was to pinch myself to see if I’m not dreaming. Then the phone buzzed a lot from all incoming congratulations. Family and friends wrote to me, congratulated me. Social media buzzed too. It was great. But then again it was very stressful because ‘it is only the beginning, now I need to work hard to prove that I deserve to be here’. I was happy because that was the place that I wanted to be, that I saw myself in. And again a little bit stressful because this team has a huge history and now I’m a part of it. They have trust in me that I can help them win games and titles.”

The pride of HS Riga now heads for the Armada, a team flushed with pride after winning the last Four Star Trophy. A lot of players from the team are now heading up to the SHL so the new crop of players will have big shoes to fill. Janis already has the attitude right to face down the next big challenge in his life.

“I think everybody wants to be the best since day one. I’m no exception. But also I'm a realist so I know I won’t be the main guy on the team. So as far as accomplishments is to be aggressive, try to score. And of course grow, try to compile competition. I think for me personally the target for the season is to give 110% every practice and every game. Even if it's only a few seconds on ice. I want to be better than I was in the last game. Well I want to be a good all-around player, a winger who can defend too. Yes my main target as an attacker is to score goals or deal assists, but I can’t do that without the puck. So I need to be good on both sides of the pitch.”

Any team that wants to win the four star cup, they need team members. Guys who will fight for their teammates every night and keep up the effort no matter what. Despite all the odds being against him, Janis Lux has proven himself so far and if he keeps up his attitude and his performances from Latvia, Anchorage may have found a late round gem.

“Ask me the SHL question when I will make it there. Of course it’s the best league out there. Every young player dreams to play in the best league in the world, to play side by side with the best players in the world. It will mean a lot. But now my main focus is to grow better as a player and help Anchorage win games and cups here in SMJHL.”

**The__Y-man__100** · 02-02-2021, 05:15 PM

First ever Yukon Malamute draft pick (1st overall S65)

Wearingabear · 02-02-2021, 10:55 PM

BOATS

Ronniewalker · 02-03-2021, 01:27 PM

Welcome to the boats, neighbor! Smile

Sigs by sulovilen , Ragnar , supertardis101 , Leviadan , High Stick King , Carpy & KaleSalad

S69 Challenge Cup Champion - Philadelphia Forge Forge

S59 & S62 Challenge Cup Champion - Texas Renegades

S57 Four Star Cup Champion - Anchorage Armada Armada

S57 & S58 WJC / S62, S64 & S66 IIHF Gold Medalist - Team Finland Finland

After 69 shots on net with still no SHL goals to show for it, even the opposition started to feel so sorry for Lemo, that they decided to help him out :D

- Bad pass by Jack Klompus, he gave it right to Lemo Pihl.

- Lemo Pihl rips it to the net...

- Lemo Pihl will find the empty net, that should do it!

TEX @ MAN, S59 game 31

Lukstins88 · 02-04-2021, 09:38 AM

Thanks men for interview Armada

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