Zemgus Girgensons facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zemgus Girgensons
Girgensons with the Buffalo Sabres in 2016
Born	(1994-01-05) 5 January 1994 (age 31) Riga, Latvia
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Forward
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Tampa Bay Lightning Buffalo Sabres
National team	Latvia
NHL Draft	14th overall, 2012 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	2012–present

Zemgus Girgensons (born on January 5, 1994) is a professional ice hockey player from Latvia. He plays as a forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Zemgus was picked very early in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. The Buffalo Sabres chose him as the 14th player overall. This made him the highest-drafted Latvian player ever in the NHL. He was also chosen in the 2011 KHL Junior Draft by CSKA Moscow. In 2015, Zemgus was voted by fans to play in the NHL All-Star Game.

Zemgus Girgensons' Hockey Journey

Zemgus Girgensons started playing hockey in Latvia. He went to the EVHS hockey school. A former player named Edmunds Vasiļjevs was his coach. Zemgus played in many youth leagues in Latvia.

Playing in Junior Leagues

In 2009, Zemgus moved to North America. He played for the Green Mountain Glades in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL). The next year, he joined the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the United States Hockey League (USHL).

In 2011, his team, the Fighting Saints, won the USHL championship. Zemgus also played in the USHL All-Star Game that year. For his last junior season in 2011–12, he was named the captain of the Fighting Saints.

Becoming a Professional Player

Time with the Buffalo Sabres

Zemgus playing for the Sabres in 2013

Zemgus was expected to be a top pick in the NHL draft. The Buffalo Sabres chose him as the 14th player overall. The Sabres traded some other draft picks to move up and get him.

Before signing with the Sabres, Zemgus had planned to go to college. He was going to play for the University of Vermont. But he decided to sign a professional contract with the Sabres in July 2012. This meant he could not play college hockey.

Zemgus started his professional career in the American Hockey League (AHL). He played for the Rochester Americans in the 2012–13 season. He had a strong finish to that season.

In the 2013–14 season, Zemgus made it to the NHL with the Sabres. He scored his very first NHL goal on October 2, 2013. This was in the Sabres' first game of the season.

Fans voted for Zemgus to play in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game. Many votes came from his home country of Latvia. He was the top vote-getter.

Zemgus signed new contracts with the Sabres over the years. He signed a one-year deal in 2016. In 2017, he signed a two-year contract. He signed another one-year deal in 2019.

During the 2019–20 NHL season, he scored 12 goals. This was his second-best goal total ever. He played on a line with Johan Larsson and Kyle Okposo. Fans called their line "The Roarin' 20's." In October 2020, Zemgus signed a three-year contract with the Sabres.

In January 2021, Zemgus got a lower-body injury during training camp. He had surgery for a hamstring injury. This meant he missed the entire 2020–21 season.

Before the 2021–22 season, the Sabres named Zemgus an alternate captain. He shared this role with Kyle Okposo. He signed another one-year contract with the Sabres in June 2023.

Joining the Tampa Bay Lightning

On July 1, 2024, Zemgus became a free agent. This was after playing 10 seasons with the Sabres. He then signed a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He joined the team to help strengthen their forward lines.

Playing for His Country

Zemgus has proudly played for Latvia's national ice hockey teams. He played for the junior team in the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He also played in the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships.

He first played for the senior national team in the 2013 IIHF World Championship. He scored his first international goal against Slovakia.

In January 2014, Zemgus was chosen to play for Latvia in the 2014 Winter Olympics. He scored his first Olympic goal against Sweden. He has also played for Latvia in the World Championships in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017.

Zemgus' Family Life

Zemgus comes from a family that loves ice hockey. His father, Aldis Girgensons, was also a hockey player. He played as a defenceman. His father is now a general manager for a hockey team in Japan.

Zemgus and his wife have two children.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and Honours