Ex-Leafs prospect scores the biggest goal of his lifetime and sends Team USA home without a medal
For the very first time in its history, Latvia has taken home a medal from the IIHF World Championship Tournament, much to the dismay of Team USA, who will now head home without a medal at the tournament. With the win, a massive underdog Latvia has won bronze at the tourney, with Canada and Germany set to face off for gold this evening.
The win was extra special for a former Leafs prospect, who not only tied the game late, but scored the game-winning goal in OT. Defenseman Kristians Rubins played the hero for Latvia in what amounts to the biggest game of his career thus far.
Rubins, an undrafted defenseman, first joined the Leafs organization through the ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers back in 2018. Rubins split time between the Growlers and the AHL's Toronto Marlies in 2018-19 and following that season, he never went back down to the ECHL. He went on to play 3 seasons with the Marlies and even received a look at the NHL level, playing a trio of games with the Maple Leafs in 2021-22.
Rubins was released by the Leafs last summer and signed a deal with the Ottawa Senators, where he played 42 games with the Sens' AHL affiliates, the Belleville Senators. He was traded to the Calgary Flames back in March and last played in 3 games for their AHL affiliates, the Calgary Wranglers, before joining Latvia for the IIHF Worlds.
A huge congrats to Rubins and Team Latvia on an excellent tournament. Nobody gave them a shot to medal, so this bronze must feel extra sweet for a growing hockey market.
