Another Ex-Pete called up to Jets
WINNIPEG – Arturs Kulda was a teenager in Los Angeles on a 10-day road trip with his traveling youth hockey team when he found himself a favourite NHL player.
Kulda was at Staples Center attending his first NHL game when a Hall of Fame defenceman made a lasting impression on the youngster from Latvia.
“The guy that really stood out for me was Rob Blake,” said Kulda, who made his Winnipeg Jets debut on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. “I was 12 or 13, the Kings were playing the New York Rangers and Rob had a hat trick.”
Kulda, a seventh-round pick (200th overall) of the Atlanta Thrashers was the latest defenceman to make it through the revolving door, bringing the total number to 12 that have suited up for the Jets this season.
With five blue-liners still in the infirmary, Kulda was recalled from the St. John’s IceCaps on Sunday.
Monday marked his seventh NHL game and he’s come up with a smart theory on how to deal with the jump to the big leagues.
“It’s not rocket science, the players have two hands and two legs,” said Kulda, who was paired mostly with fell call-up Mark Flood. “I can play here and not worry about the last names the guys have on their jerseys.”
Kulda came over to North America in 2006, joining the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League, playing two seasons before turning pro with the Chicago Wolves.
“I’m used to it by now,” Kulda said. “Playing in the NHL was always my dream and it was the right and the best decision to come here.”
Jets defenceman Zach Bogosian played with Kulda for two seasons on the Petes and has seen his development first-hand.
“He plays hard, he’s a physical guy and he has a heavy shot,” Bogosian said. “When he first came over, he didn’t know much English, the surroundings were all new for him but he’s been in North America for a bit, he’s gotten more comfortable and he hasn’t surprised me, but he’s made big steps in his game, just with his skating, his passing and stuff like that.
“When I played with him (in Peterborough), you could see that he had all of those tools, it was just a matter of them coming out. It’s cool to see him up here.”
“He’s a stay-at-home guy who plays with a little bite,” Jets head coach Claude Noel said. “He can check and defend. We just need him to help, like the other guys who came up did.”
ON TAP: The Jets are giving their fans an added bonus on Tuesday.
In addition to the first annual Winnipeg Jets Skills Competition, the NHL club announced that an open practice will be held at 5:30 p.m.
Noel will be mic’d up during the practice, allowing fans an inside look.
The skills competition starts at 7 p.m. and includes the fastest skater, hardest shot, accuracy shooting and a breakawy competition.
You must purchase a ticket for the skills competition in order to get into the open practice.
Tickets are $12.50 and $17.50, plus service charges and are available at www.ticketmaster.ca or by phone at 1-855-985-5000.
Proceeds from the skills competition will benefit the Winnipeg Jets True North Foundation and the NHLPA Goals and Dreams Fund.
