By Luke McGinnis
Since their foundation in 2014, HK Liepāja have been members of the Optibet Hockey League in Latvia, enjoying a high level of success throughout their history.
The 2014/15 season, their first in existence, saw Liepāja finish second in the regular-season standings before picking up a playoff bronze medal.
Liepāja would follow this up with their most successful season to date the following year.
After finishing first in the regular season, they defeated HK Kurbads in the playoff final to claim the Latvian Championship for the first and only time in franchise history.
That roster featured former Star Egils Kalns, who spent four seasons with Liepāja before joining Dundee ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.
Liepāja would go on to record a winning record and reach the semi-finals in five of the following six seasons, before temporarily withdrawing from the Optibet Hockey League ahead of the 2022/23 season.
They made their return last season and picked up exactly where they left off, finishing third and once again reaching the semi-finals.
Latvian international Kārlis Ozoliņš led his side in scoring with 54 points in just 35 games, including 28 goals, before adding a further eight points in nine playoff appearances.
This season, Ozoliņš will be joined by a mix of young Latvian internationals who have represented their country on the World Junior stage, alongside veterans bringing a wealth of European experience.
Captain Ralfs Grīnbergs is returning for his eighth season in Liepāja, while Artūrs Mickēvičs is bringing over 250 games of Ligue Magnus experience to the club after spending last season with the Leeds Knights of the NIHL.
Czech goaltender Michael Valenta will once again be in the Liepāja crease after playing 30 games in the Optibet Hockey League last season and finishing with a .921 save percentage and 2.16 goals-against-average.
Now, for the first time in history, Liepāja will travel to Scotland ahead of the 2026/27 season to face off with both the Glasgow Clan and Dundee Stars.
Faceoff against HK Liepāja is scheduled for 7pm at the Dundee Ice Arena, with tickets still on sale NOW!
