Ronalds Ķēniņš

Ronalds Ķēniņš (born February 28, 1991) is a Latvian professional ice hockey forward for Lausanne HC of the National League (NL). He previously played for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Ronalds Ķēniņš
Ķēniņš with Vancouver Canucks in February 2015
Born (1991-02-28) February 28, 1991
Riga, Latvia
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
NL team
Former teams		 Lausanne HC
Vancouver Canucks
ZSC Lions
National team  Latvia
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2008–present

Playing career

Ķēniņš played junior hockey in Latvia and Switzerland. At 17 years of age, he started his professional career with GCK Lions of the National League B (NLB), Switzerland's second-tier league, in 2008–09. After three seasons with the Lions organization, Ķēniņš joined ZSC Lions of the top-tier National League A (NLA). Following the 2012–13 season, he was signed by the Vancouver Canucks on July 30, 2013.[1] He remained in Switzerland for the 2013–14 season and recorded an NLA career-high eight goals and 25 points in 39 games.

Ķēniņš moved to North America for the 2014–15 season and was assigned to the Canucks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utica Comets. After being called up midway through the season, Ķēniņš made his NHL debut on January 30, 2015, against the Buffalo Sabres (a team that featured fellow Latvian Zemgus Girgensons and the former Latvian national team's head coach, Ted Nolan).[2] The following game, Ķēniņš scored his first career NHL goal against Devan Dubnyk of the Minnesota Wild on February 1, 2015.[3] On April 17, Ķēniņš scored his first career Stanley Cup playoff goal on a one-timer assisted by linemate and fellow rookie Bo Horvat.

On August 17, 2016, Ķēniņš agreed as a free agent to a two-year contract with his former team, the ZSC Lions of the NL.[4] Ķēniņš plays with a Swiss player-license and is not considered an import player in the NL.

On April 28, 2018, Ķēniņš signed a three-year contract with fellow National League club, Lausanne HC. On May 8, 2021, he signed a five-year contract extension.[5] On December 29, 2022, Ķēniņš was loaned to HC Sierre of the Swiss League (SL).[6]

International play
Medal record
Representing  Latvia
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place2023 Finland/Latvia

At the junior level, Ķēniņš played for Latvia in two IIHF World U18 Championships (second tier Division I play) and two IIHF World U20 Championships (one year in Division I and another in the top tier). He made his debut with Latvia's men's team at the 2011 IIHF World Championship and has gone on to play in 2012, 2013 and 2014. In February 2014, he played for Latvia at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

He represented Latvia at the 2023 IIHF World Championship where he recorded one assist and won a bronze medal, Latvia's first ever IIHF World Championship medal.[7]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2006–07 HK Liepājas Metalurgs LAT U18 —13412 —————
2007–08 Pikes Oberthurgau SUI U17 3014213560 403318
2008–09 GCK Lions II SUI.2 U20 666126 —————
2008–09 GCK Lions SUI.2 42281024 —————
2009–10 GCK Lions SUI U20 3013183138 904410
2009–10 GCK Lions SUI.2 41344 —————
2010–11 GCK Lions SUI U20 187142145 117132024
2010–11 GCK Lions SUI.2 111238 —————
2011–12 ZSC Lions NLA 476121848 150446
2012–13 ZSC Lions NLA 453141712 1244810
2013–14 ZSC Lions NLA 398172540 184046
2014–15 Utica Comets AHL 36571223 —————
2014–15 Vancouver Canucks NHL 3048128 51124
2015–16 Utica Comets AHL 415182344 40222
2015–16 Vancouver Canucks NHL 80006 —————
2016–17 ZSC Lions NLA 45691565 60112
2017–18 ZSC Lions NL 40191057 18551014
2018–19 Lausanne HC NL 4910192947 1233616
2019–20 Lausanne HC NL 445152034 —————
2020–21 Lausanne HC NL 519263549 61236
2021–22 Lausanne HC NL 437132024 812310
2022–23 Lausanne HC NL 4632532 —————
2022–23 HC Sierre SL 20222 —————
NL totals 44958136194408 9518213970
NHL totals 38481214 51124

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2008 Latvia U18 D1 13th 5 0 1 1 2
2009 Latvia U18 D1 12th 5 3 0 3 4
2010 Latvia WJC 9th 6 2 2 4 6
2011 Latvia WJC D1 11th 5 0 3 3 4
2011 Latvia WC 13th 6 0 0 0 0
2012 Latvia WC 10th 5 1 2 3 6
2013 Latvia OGQ Q 3 1 1 2 2
2013 Latvia WC 11th 7 0 1 1 6
2014 Latvia OG 8th 5 0 0 0 2
2014 Latvia WC 11th 7 0 4 4 4
2016 Latvia WC 13th 6 1 0 1 27
2016 Latvia OGQ DNQ 3 1 2 3 4
2017 Latvia WC 10th 7 0 0 0 2
2018 Latvia WC 8th 8 2 1 3 4
2019 Latvia WC 10th 7 2 2 4 6
2021 Latvia WC 11th 7 1 3 4 12
2021 Latvia OGQ Q 3 2 4 6 0
2022 Latvia OG 11th 4 1 0 1 0
2022 Latvia WC 10th 7 0 2 2 2
2023 Latvia WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 0 1 1 0
Junior totals 21 5 6 11 16
Senior totals 92 12 23 35 77

References
  1. "Canucks sign Latvian forward Ronalds Kenins". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  2. "Kenins makes debut in the NHL against Sabres". Buffalo Sabres. January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  3. "Kenins nets first for Canucks against Wild". National Hockey League. February 1, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  4. "Ronalds Kenins returns to ZSC Lions" (in German). ZSC Lions. August 17, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  5. Pattaroni, Michael (May 8, 2021). "Cinq arrivées et deux prolongations de contrat au Lausanne Hockey Club". Lausanne HC (in Swiss French). Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  6. Gauci, Antoine (December 29, 2022). "Ronalds Kenins en prêt au HC Sierre". Lausanne HC (in Swiss French). Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  7. "Latvia wins historic bronze in OT". IIHF.com. May 28, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
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