Edinburgh Capitals are delighted to announce the signing of experienced Latvian defenceman Rihards Grigors for the 2024-25 SNL campaign.
The 32-year-old iced in the NIHL 1 North last season with Whitley Warriors but for the older Caps fans he will be a familiar face having played with us here in the Elite League days back in 2016-18.
Last season with the Warriors he scored 8 goals and 14 assists in 27 games. Rihards will bring experience, physicality, and grit to our blueline and he will not be scared to drop the gloves if necessary to stick up for his teammates.
Growing up in his home country of Latvia he also had spells in Germany, Hungary, and Finland before arriving here in Edinburgh back in 2016. He signed mid-season and held his own in his first taste of the Elite League here at Murrayfield.
The following year he would return to the Caps in what was the club’s final year in the top flight. In 81 games over 2 seasons he failed to score but picked up 5 assists and 98 penalty minutes.
He would again start the 2018-19 season in the Elite League with MK Lightning. He played there for 21 games before moving back to Edinburgh this time to ice with the newly formed Murrayfield Racers in the SNL.
It would be a successful two seasons with the Racers, picking up a number of trophies along the way, most notably the NIHL North Cup. Covid then hit and as everyone knows the rink was closed for two years.
Rihards then stepped back up to the Elite League to start the 2021-22 campaign this time as a Fife Flyer. His stint in Kirkcaldy would only last 4 games before he joined the Whitley Warriors in the NIHL 1, a place he would call home for the next 3 seasons.
This is a massive first signing from Head Coach Steven Lynch and here is what he had to say about his new import. “Rihards represents our first signing of the summer and our first new face to introduce to the Caps fans.
He’s a player I’ve admired for a few years now and we’ve had discussions in the past about him coming back to Murrayfield but never previously managed to get things over the line. Now that we’ve got him, I know that he’ll instantly make our defensive group and our team better all round.
He’s proved over the years playing with Whitley and the Racers that he can be a standout defenceman in this league. He skates with the puck and moves it very well at this level, has a good shot, is strong defensively, and can also play with a bit of an edge when required.
I’m sure he’ll be welcomed by the Caps faithful and you’ll see him hit the ice with the rest of us in September.”
Rihards said, “I’m excited to be back playing in Murrayfield. I always loved playing in front of the Edinburgh Capitals fans and after speaking with Lynchy about the club’s plans for next season it made my decision to come back easy.
The club will be aiming for silverware this year and that means it will be an exciting season to be part of.
I can’t wait to step back out on the ice in front of the loud Caps fans come September.”
More signing news will be released very soon so stay tuned to the Caps social media pages.
LET’S GO CAPITALS!
