 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"At 20 years of age he was icing with Dinamo Riga in the KHL, which is arguably the second best league in the World behind the NHL so the Riga club obviously saw something in him.
"Toms brings a lot of speed and skill to the team and will fit in well alongside the forwards we have and I'm sure he will do well in the Elite League.
"He skates really well, and that will be important as much in the bigger rinks when we're away from Whitley Bay. But he's looking for a chance to play serious minutes on a scoring line and he's hungry for this chance.
"It's hard to compare but his numbers last year were very good, and he ticks a lot of boxes for our team. He's young, hungry, determined and I look forward to seeing him in a Vipers uniform pretty soon."
Although Hartmanis has only just signed his contract, as a Latvian he does not need to go through the UK Visa and Work Permit process so will be in the North East with the rest of the squad next week.
An intense training camp awaits with a lot of on and off-ice sessions in a short time ahead of home and away games with Edinburgh over the weekend of 11/12 September. The hard work continues the following week, including the 'Bragging Rights' match with Whitley on Wednesday 15 September before the season starts properly with home and away games with Sheffield Steelers.
The home opener is on Sunday September 19th and is dubbed Ice Wars: The Vipers Strike Back. Tickets are on sale for all games from the club on 0191 4774100 or online at vipershockey.co.uk/shop. The Ice Wars game will see characters from Star Wars in the rink before the game and then leading the Vipers onto the ice for the opening face off.
