The Vancouver Canucks have recalled forward Ronalds Kenins from AHL Utica.
As you might have guessed by the name, Kenins is Latvian. The 23-year-old represented his country in the 2014 Winter Olympics and was part of the group that came close to upsetting Canada in Sochi.
If Kenins makes his NHL debut tomorrow versus Buffalo (which, of course, features Latvian Zemgus Girgensons), it will most likely be in a fourth-line energy role in place of winger Derek Dorsett, who appeared to suffer a head injury in a controversial collision with Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler on Tuesday.
Kenins has five goals and seven assists in 36 games for Utica this season.
Corrado on Kenins: "Very hard-working, flies around the ice, finishes every check, brings a lot of sandpaper... but highly skilled" #Canucks
— Eric MacKenzie (@EricMacKenzie) January 29, 2015