Gaisins rejoins the Stingrays having initially signed last year as squad back up at the end of January after moving to the city and training with the club for much of the year. Typically given he was cover for any injuries, the 28 year old broke his wrist after crashing awkwardly into the boards in Belfast during just his second game and missed the remainder of the season.
Prior to signing in Hull, the former Latvian junior international had iced in the Latvian top tier, first with Metalurgs Liepaja and Zemgate before settling down for six seasons with ASK Ogre, last season was his first venture out of his native Latvia.
After initially being forced to go with a weak looking five strong blueline, the signing of Gaisins in particular has strengthened the look of the Stingrays D. Although many will have been hoping for a statistically pleasing North American to replace Guilaumme Lepine and Matt Suderman, this may have restricted finances somewhat, possibly forcing the club to go with just five defenceman.
For a club that year-on-year struggles with massive injury problems, that would have been an unnecessary risk when Gaisins, a solid player in his own right, was on the doorstep in the city.
The return of the 28 year old gives the Rays options in the defensive and strength end. Cloutier was adamant, however, that he brings more to the table than just another warm body.
"He has a great attitude to the game and a first-class work ethic...He's another player with great experience and I'm going to be looking to him to make a big contribution on the penalty kill and in shutting down the top scoring units of the other teams."Grundmanis, a 6'5 defenceman that is the second 'twin tower' that Cloutier referred to upon signing Jozef Sladok, joins the Rays having iced for HK Riga 2000 in the Latvian top flight and Dinamo Riga in the Belarussian top flight.
At just 21 he is one of the youngest imports to ever sign for the Stingrays and he will be one of the youngest in the Elite League when the Rays season kicks off, however, while he may be young, he has already gained some valuable experience in hockey.
Beginning his career at the age of just 16, he received his first call up to the Latvian U18's in 2005 while icing in the third tier of Russian hockey with CSKA Moscow's second team, registering eight points before returning home to ice for Riga in 05/06.
From there he was drafted by Toronto St. Michael's Major in the first round of the 2006 CHL Import Draft, much like defensive partner Sladok, and he joined the Canadian junior side for a 59 game spell in the same year, scoring once and adding nine assists. A rangy defenceman, he became best known for his physical play and became a fan favourite in Toronto, but after just a year as a junior he signed to his first North American professional contract in the ECHL with the now defunct Dayton Bombers.
After receiving offers that he would have more than likely taken up from North America for the 08/09 season, Grundmanis was forced to remain in Latvia after an injured wrist required surgery prior to seasons start, nevertheless, he went on to ice in the higher standard Belarussian league with HK Riga registering a goal and three assists in 16 games.
During 08/09 he also continued his impressive run of being selected to the Latvian junior set up every single eligible year of his career, but perhaps more impressively this time he appeared in the World Juniors. For the second time in his short career the 20 year old appeared in the elite U20 tournament consisting of hockey powerhouse nations Canada, Russia, Sweden and Finland.
After his performance in that tournament, in which Latvian were relegated, he was even being considered for selection to the Latvian national side at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, although he eventually missed out.
Last season he returned to Riga and iced for the team in both Belarus and Latvia, while also training with the KHL side, and he helped win the Latvian championship alongside Sheffield Steelers netminder Ervins Mustukovs.
He and Gaisins become the third and fourth Latvians in the Elite League this season with Mustukovs in South Yorkshire and forward Toms Hartmanis in Newcastle.
Coach Cloutier admitted he is delighted to have signed such a young defenceman with such a promising CV.
"You just have to be impressed by his resume even though he is still only 21 years old. An Under-20 international for four years, a first round CHL import draft pick, two sold seasons in North America, experience of the top Belarus league and also experience of training with the top class KHL team in Riga."The Latvian pair join Canadians Trevor Read and Kurtis Dulle, Brit Craig Mitchell and Slovakian Jozef Sladok and complete the Rays defensive corps at six with just two forwards, a 6'3 import centreman and a Brit, required to complete the Stingrays squad ahead of the 10/11 opener against Cardiff (3 October).
