Once in a while, I’m asked what is the most memorable event I’ve covered in 22-plus years on the hockey beat.

I normally answer either Canada’s gold medal triumph at Salt Lake City in 2002 — the one that snapped the country’s 50-year drought — Sidney Crosby’s Golden Goal in Vancouver in 2010, or one of many breathtaking moments from the Stanley Cup playoffs over the years.

While those were indeed memorable, I must share a secret. My most treasured memory — and it stands alone — came at the 2000 World Hockey Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia, when Latvia upset the mighty hosts in front of a soldout crowd in a brand-spanking new arena.

I was there covering the tournament for The Canadian Press. The Russian team was loaded with more than a dozen NHLers, including stars such as Pavel Bure, Sergei Gonchar, Alexei Zhamnov, Andrei Markov and Alexei Yashin. But on that unforgettable night, they ran into a wall called Arturs Irbe.

“It still ranks No. 1 in my memories, no doubt about that,” Irbe recalled in a phone conversation from Latvia last week. “It was a big upset. We weren’t the only ones to beat that star-studded Russian team, but it had extra, special meaning for us. For me personally and for a lot of my countrymen, it was a big moment of truth and accomplishment.

“At the time, I really believed it was possible, but after we did it, it was most definitely an emotional win,” he added. “As a single game in my career, it’s impossible to replicate. It was our first win against Russia.”

Ten years earlier, as an emotional Irbe discussed after his 37-save gem, he was among those in his native country standing bravely in barricades ready to stand up to Soviet rule. Latvia gained its independence on May 4, 1990.

Irbe was 23 at the time and playing in Riga.

“Our country was standing united,” Irbe said last week. “After 50 years of oppression, suddenly people were not afraid anymore. People were scared for a long time to speak the truth because the repercussions were serious for people. But in 1990, we said ‘Enough is enough.’ We all rose up.

“And 10 years later, we had an opportunity, in a peaceful way, to make a statement. We wanted to beat the Russian team, and we wanted to say: ‘We are equals.’ For me it was the best way to get my say.”

So, yeah, not your run-of-the-mill hockey victory that night on May 5, 2000.

I’ll never forget being there.

Arturs Irbe plays the hero for Latvia. Credit: AP Photo/Keystone, Arno Balzarini

I bring this up because it’s the kind of story The Athletic would absolutely embrace.

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If you took the time to read my work at ESPN.com for the past decade — and I thank you for that — then please sign up for The Athletic to find me again (and receive a 30 per cent discount). But also to find a whole group of writers doing amazing things.

In an era where the industry is so focused on click-baiting items, lists and videos, I wholeheartedly embrace that The Athletic is willing to gamble on the fact there are sports fans that still desire a deeper dive into the issues, players and teams they are so passionate about. The written word is not dead. It’s been given new life here.

Join us for the ride, folks — it’s going to be something else.

And here’s hoping we find our next Arturs Irbe to write about this year.