From Moose To Mentor

Latvian forward Herberts Vasiljevs reflects on his time in Winnipeg and a life in hockey.

Herberts Vasiljevs’ hockey journey has taken him across continents, through the NHL, the Russian Super League, and a long and successful run in Germany. But for the former Latvian national team star, his two-season stint with the Manitoba Moose remains a meaningful chapter — one that introduced him to Winnipeg’s deep love of hockey and offered the intensity of a true Canadian market.

“I didn’t really know what to expect when I came down to Manitoba,” Vasiljevs told the Winnipeg Sun from his home in Germany. “But it didn’t feel like a step down. Winnipeg was a real hockey town — crazy about the game. That made it special.”

Vasiljevs signed with the Vancouver Canucks in 2001 after a stint with the Florida Panthers. He cracked the Canucks' lineup out of training camp but was later reassigned to their AHL affiliate in Winnipeg. Though demotions can be difficult, Vasiljevs quickly discovered that playing in Winnipeg came with its own perks.