Prepping for Pro in the Patch: Arturs Kulda

The Petes have had players from across the globe come to the Patch to play hockey. Hailing from Riga, Latvia is defenceman Arturs Kulda, who donned the maroon and white from 2006 to 2008.

“I would like to come back and visit someday, I had good times there and of course it helped my hockey career,” says Kulda.

Kulda joined the Petes following one of the organization’s most statistically successful seasons and played with the likes of Zach Bogosian, Daniel Ryder, and pal Branislav Rehus. 

“My first year was a little tough because I was adjusting to that level of hockey, but my whole second year was really good. Of course, I was friends with other Europeans, Branislav and my driver was Justin Soryal – I was really close with him.”

Although Kulda’s time in Peterborough did not result in any championships, he points to this section of his life as reasons why he was able to enter the pro-level with ease. 

“Vince Malette helped me in terms of discipline on the ice because we played very strict hockey and we worked hard, just basic principles of defensive plays. When I moved to professional hockey, I didn’t need anytime to adjust. The way we played in Peterborough, I think we played a pro-style.”

Before Kulda arrived in Peterborough, he had experienced the thrill of playing in front of thousands of fans as he represented Latvia at the 2006, 2007, and 2008 U-20 World Junior Championships. His initial moment on the international stage took place in Western Canada, where he fell in love with one of Canada’s most beloved franchises. 

“For some of us, it was our first time flying overseas and it was unbelievable, we had never stayed at hotels. Even though many people are not that familiar with Latvia, they were cheering for us. The tournament was actually in Kamloops, Kelowna and Vancouver.”

“I remember the first time trying Tim Hortons and being like this is amazing.” 

Kulda has represented Latvia at multiple international tournaments including a decade’s worth of IIHF World Championships and the 2014 winter Olympics in Sochi, where Latvia nearly clinched a win over Canada in the quarter-final game.

“It was unbelievable. I think Shea Weber scored seven or eight minutes left in the game. Of course, we are a small country to hold a 1-1 game with Canada and see the NHL stars being very, very nervous and yelling at the referees, it was something else.”

In 2006, Kulda was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the NHL Entry Draft, two years ahead of his d-partner Bogosian, however the majority of his time career in North America was spent with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. 

“We ended up winning a Calder Cup [2008] and it was amazing, the team was great, 19 years old winning something was unbelievable. The AHL is really competitive and it was a hard league to play in. 

“Chicago was amazing because they had crazy fireworks before every game and of course it was very successful.”

After a season spent with the AHL’s St. Johns IceCaps -a fanbase that he describes as being one of the best in the world of hockey- the Petes alumnus took his hockey skills to the KHL for nine seasons. Today, Kulda is a member of the Nuermberg Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liiga, playing alongside former Pete Eric Cornel. The 32-year-old looks at the impact that on-ice leaders like Chris Chelios had on the early success of his career and desires to model the same leadership for the young guys on his team. 

“Of course playing with Chris Chelios, he always told me you have more time than you think. He was my d-partner for a couple of seasons. I was never worried about making my coach mad. I was more worried about making ‘Chelly’ mad, he was three years old than my dad and had a 27 year age difference.” 

Kulda recently received his bachelor’s degree in Business, and although his eyes are set on winning championships, he is preparing himself to continue to have success when he says goodbye to the rink.

“I am trying to be developed in multiple areas so I will get my coaching certificate. I will get my master’s degree in sports management, and I will do something on the side business-wise. I can’t put all my eggs in one basket.”

Despite his preparation for life beyond being a professional athlete, Kulda maintains that his focus is on playing hockey as long as he can and winning along the way. 

“I’m highly motivated to win something, I hate to lose. Every league I play in I want to achieve something. So far I haven’t won a league championship in quite a long time and it burns in me.” 

For now, like many hockey players, Kulda is taking each day one at a time with the restrictions of the pandemic and not allowing it to distract him from performing. This summer, he and Team Latvia will begin preparation for the 2022 Olympics in Bejing, in hopes to put Canada on their toes once again. Enjoy reading updates on Petes alumni? Check out this story featuring Kulda’s former teammate, Justin Soryal: click here to read!