Kristers Gudlevskis is the only player to have played in the ECHL, AHL, NHL, Olympic Games and IIHF World Championships in the same season.

The Hockey News

Status: Syracuse Crunch / Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender.

HT: 6-4 WT: 197 pounds



DOB: July 31, 1992 In: Aizkraukle, Latvia

First Hockey Memory: "When I watch a game? The World Championships, Latvian national team and Russia, 3-2. I think it was 2000 in Russia."

Hockey Inspirations: "I love the feeling of making a save."

Last Book Read: "Game of Thrones."

Current Car: "Jeep Liberty (white)."

First Famous Player You Met or Encountered: "It was Latvian national team member Leonids Tambijevs. He was a forward. His son was playing in the same tournament where I was playing. He was giving the prize for the best player of the tournament, to the goalie. It just so happened I was the goalie."

Greatest Sports Moment: "First NHL game. Here in Tampa. Against Columbus. We won 3-2."

Most Painful Moment: "Oh, so many [smiles]. Probably loss to Canada in Olympic Games two years ago."

Funniest Player Encountered: "Eric Nielson."

Most Memorable Save: "No, I don't have. All the saves are important, all the saves are great. I can't tell which one is the best. (There has to be one that stands out a little?) ... probably first NHL game, my first shot and I didn't even see it. The guy just go around the net and kind of wrap around and I kind of dropped and there was a scramble and I didn't see anything but I made the save. It was my first NHL save. I was really panicking. It was good I made it. I was on the ground just laying. Scramble. And was able to save it. First NHL save. That was important."

Favorite Sport Outside Hockey: "Probably soccer. Champions League."

Embarrassing Hockey Memory: "When I just start to play midget somebody shot the puck from center ice and hit the post. And almost scored a goal. That was pretty embarrassing. Thank God they didn't score that goal [smiles]."

Strangest Game: "American Hockey League. I think we came back in the third period from 4-0 down and won the game in overtime. That was pretty unusual."

Three Athletes You Like To Watch & Follow: "I like Michael Jordan. I don't really have too much. I follow my own game too much, think about that."

Why Do You Love Playing Hockey: "I like the feeling of winning the game."

Favorite Uniforms: "Tampa Bay Lightning. And Chicago."

Favorite Arenas To Play: "I only play one game here. So I would say this one (Amalie Arena)."

Interesting Fact: In the history of hockey, Kristers is the only player to have played in the ECHL, AHL, NHL, Olympic Games and IIHF World Championships in the same season.

Mark "Scoop" Malinowski is the author of the new tennis books "Facing Federer" and "Facing Nadal" which are available at amazon. He's currently working on "Facing Probert."