Mantas Armalis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mantas Armalis |
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| Born | 6 September 1992 Plungė, Lithuania |
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| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | ||
| Weight | 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Catches | Left | ||
| team Former teams |
Free agent Djurgårdens IF Dinamo Riga Skellefteå AIK Leksands IF |
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| National team |  Lithuania |
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| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2007–present | ||
Mantas Armalis was born on September 6, 1992. He is a professional ice hockey goaltender from Lithuania. He is currently a free agent, meaning he is not signed to any team right now. Mantas last played for Leksands IF in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He has also played in other Swedish ice hockey leagues, the American Hockey League (AHL), and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
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Playing Ice Hockey
Mantas Armalis started his hockey journey with the Djurgårdens IF's under-16 team in the 2007–08 season. He then moved to the Mora IK organization. There, he played for their junior teams from 2007 to 2011.
In the 2011–12 season, Mantas continued with Mora IK. He also played a few games on loan for other teams in a lower league called Division 1. He showed great skill, making many saves in his games.
On April 11, 2016, Mantas signed a contract with the San Jose Sharks. This was a big step, as it meant he could play in North America. He played his first game for the Sharks in a preseason match. Later, he was sent to the San Jose Barracuda, which is the Sharks' team in the American Hockey League (AHL). After the 2016–17 season, he became a free agent again.
In October 2017, Mantas joined Dinamo Riga in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). This league includes teams from Europe and Asia. He played 12 games for them.
Mantas returned to the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) in May 2018. He signed a two-year contract with Skellefteå AIK. On March 24, 2020, he went back to Djurgårdens IF in the SHL. He signed another two-year contract there. His most recent team was Leksands IF, where he signed a three-year contract on April 13, 2022.
Playing for His Country
Since 2008, Mantas has been a junior member of the Lithuanian national ice hockey team. He has played for his country in several international tournaments. These include the IIHF World U18 Championships and the IIHF World U20 Championships.
In 2012, he was named the Best Goalkeeper at the IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship Division II Group A. This was a great honor for him and his country.
Modeling Career
Besides playing hockey, Mantas Armalis has also worked as a model. He has walked in fashion shows for the famous brand Versace. These shows took place during Milan Fashion Week.
He worked with several modeling agencies. Mantas modeled for Versace's collections in 2012 and 2013. Donatella Versace, who runs the company, even said that Versace needed "faces and bodies like Mantas." She liked his strong, athletic build.
About His Life
Mantas Armalis's parents moved to Sweden when he was only four months old. Both of his parents were professional orienteers. This is a sport where people use a map and compass to find their way through different terrains.
His parents encouraged him to try orienteering. However, Mantas chose to play ice hockey instead.
Awards and Achievements
Mantas Armalis has received several awards for his skills as a goaltender:
- Best Goaltender – WJC18 D1 — 2008/2009
- Best Goaltender – WJC20 D2 Group A — 2012
