STOCKHOLM/HELSINKI – Latvia’s highest-drafted player ever, Zemgus Girgensons, arrived in Helsinki today and has been registered prior to tonight’s game against the U.S.

It will be the first IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship for the 19-year-old forward, who represented Latvia in U20 competition in 2011 and 2012, and in the 2010 U18 World Championship.

The centre was picked by the Buffalo Sabres 14th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and became the highest-drafted player from the Baltic country.

The Riga native spent the season with the Sabres’ AHL affiliate Rochester Americans. In 63 games in his first season as a professional player he had nine goals and 11 assists.

After the Rochester Americans had been eliminated in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs by the Toronto Marlies, Girgensons travelled to Helsinki and arrived on Sunday morning. He has been cleared to play tonight’s game against Team USA.

MARTIN MERK