Latvian ice hockey player Jānis Jaks was recognized for his strong performance at the Milan and Cortina Olympics, featuring in a list by the media outlet Daily Faceoff.
The ice hockey media outlet Daily Faceoff has compiled a list of players who do not regularly play in the NHL but demonstrated exceptional performances at the recent Milan and Cortina Olympic Games. Among these players is Latvia's own Jānis Jaks, who plays for the Czech Extraliga team Karlovy Vary 'Energie.' At 30 years old, Jaks participated in three matches during the Olympic tournament, registering two assists and finishing with a positive plus-minus rating of +1, while averaging 18 minutes of ice time.
Jaks was one of only two players on the Latvian team to achieve a positive plus-minus rating at the Olympics, alongside forward Eduards Tralmaks, who also recorded a +1 rating. The remaining Latvian players had a neutral plus-minus rating, with Uvis Jānis Balinskis, Zemgus Girgensons, Ralfs Freibergs, and Haralds Egle all registering zero. It is notable that Freibergs and Egle had relatively low ice time, which might have influenced their performance metrics.
Unfortunately for the Latvian national team, Jaks was unable to contribute during the playoffs due to an injury, which may have impacted the team's overall performance. His recognition in the Daily Faceoff highlights not only his individual talent but also the potential of Latvian players on the international stage, drawing attention to the contributions of athletes who might be overlooked in league play.
