BRANDON — Two years ago, Kristers Gudlevskis burst onto hockey’s stage.
In one moment he was a 21-year-old rookie in the Lightning organization, and in an instant he was an international sensation.
During the 2014 Olympics, the Latvian netminder had Canadians cursing his name as he turned aside shot after shot in a quarterfinal matchup in which he stopped 55 shots. Gudlevskis and the undermanned Latvians eventually lost 2-1 to a high-powered Canadian squad filled with NHL All-Stars, but his performance that day made his name stand out.
Even now, he still fields questions from fans, friends and family.