Kasper Playing For Wrong Team????

Please tell me if i'm wrong, but isn't he Latvian? Why is he on the Russian team and not on Latvia? Sorry if this has been covered already.

Also to add, the Russians really look good and Captain Kovy looks like a real leader. Could Mess have rubbed off on him? I know Bure has been mentioned Mess a lot as a player who really cared about these games. The thing that frustrates me, as you can tell by my avatar he is my fav player........why couldn't Kovalev put it all togeather in two different shots in NY?? :confused:

I've been wondering the samething...Always thought he was Latvian.

Born: October 16, 1972
Elektrenai, USSR

Where is that now?

In Latvia i think. Kaspar is from Latvia, but he get Russia passport i think. Latvia was part of USSR before.

Darius is Lithuanian not Latvian.

Darius is Lithuanian not Latvian.

correct...my bad...i thought there will be some catch ;-)

Kaspar is Lithuanian. At the age of 12, he was sent to Russia to play and study at some renowned hockey academies in both St. Petersburg and Moscow and had lived there until coming to North America. It's funny the timing of this thread. I ran into a guy at work yesterday who's also Lithuanian, and we spent a good amount of time on our lunch break talking hockey, and Kasparaitas in particular.

As a Lithuanian, I'd rather see him play with Russia. Let's say the hockey in Lithuania is WAY behind basketball. Besides him and Zubrus, not much out there.

One thing I've always wondered is how Lithuanians feel about Kaspar playing for the Russian team.

Does Zubrus play for Russia as well? I guess it doesn't come up much... :)

In 90's after USSR collapse each player had to select for what county to play. Darius had selected Russia while Irbe had selected Latvia, for example.

One thing I've always wondered is how Lithuanians feel about Kaspar playing for the Russian team.

Does Zubrus play for Russia as well? I guess it doesn't come up much... :)

My understanding about Zubrus:

Zubrus has played for Lithuania at qualifying tournaments, etc., when he can and has maintained his IIHF eligibility to play for Lithuania

He did play for Russia at the 2004 World Cup, which does not affect his ability to represent Lithuania in IIHF events, because it was a non-IIHF sanctioned event

Every country has their own rules of who can play on their team. Bret Hull i believe is canadian and played for the US. Heatley is German but plays for Canada. Kaspar is from Lithuania and plays for Russia. Its not uncommon.

Yea but he is a russian citizen.

Please tell me if i'm wrong, but isn't he Latvian? Why is he on the Russian team and not on Latvia? Sorry if this has been covered already.

Also to add, the Russians really look good and Captain Kovy looks like a real leader. Could Mess have rubbed off on him? I know Bure has been mentioned Mess a lot as a player who really cared about these games. The thing that frustrates me, as you can tell by my avatar he is my fav player........why couldn't Kovalev put it all togeather in two different shots in NY?? :confused:

One thing I've always wondered is how Lithuanians feel about Kaspar playing for the Russian team.

Does Zubrus play for Russia as well? I guess it doesn't come up much... :)

Funnily enough I met Dainius Zubrus' sister when I was up in the Poconos a couple of New Year's Eve's ago. We were staying in some cabins and there was huge group of Lithuanians next to us, including his sister. When we found out, one of my friends asked her about him and that was apparently a sore point for her, because she wouldn't talk to us again.

Was a great night...they sang Russian songs, drank plenty of vodka and partied hard, I wasn't much use the next day :)

What's with Latvia and Lithuania that gives people trouble? I also confuse the 2 countries often. I also think that because Latvia plays hockey in the olympics and in just more in general, people automatically assume that he's from Latvia.