The skillful forward was signed alongside Ben Bowns and Chris Sykes from English Premier League side Sheffield Steeldogs in the summer in order to provide the Stingrays with some much needed secondary offence.
He started the season in scintillating form and was regularly one of the Rays standout performers, helping himself five goals and seven assists in the first month of the season before following that up with five goals and two assists in seven games during October.
Indeed, he was one third of one of the Rays best, most exciting forward lines of the season when combined with Matty Davies and Dominic Osman.
However, the dip in form of a number of the team after October saw a line re-shuffle orchestrated by coach Sylvain Cloutier. The 23 year old's form then drastically dipped pre-Christmas as he netted just four goals in the league in November and December (26 games) in part due to the rest of the Elite League's renewed awareness of his abilities and his dislike of physical play.
At the time of his release he had yet to score in the league in January and had gone goalless in his last 12 games with his last league goal coming against Nottingham on 3rd December,
Rumours of his release had circulated throughout late-December and early January, and the writing appeared to be on the wall last weekend when he was dropped for Saturday's 5-2 home win over Fife before returning to the squad in the reverse fixture 24 hours later - a 5-1 defeat.
A brilliant, entertaining player on his day early in the season, his release seems to be a case of lack of confidence and form following a long spell without a goal - something he didn't have to contend with during his 55 goal, 52 game season with the Steeldogs last season.
A relatively young player as far as imports go, there was never doubting his skill or talent, nor will there be any doubting that he can and will score goals again. Unfortunately for him, the Stingrays desperately needed his secondary scoring now as they begin to slip out of the playoff picture and, after Cloutier showed plenty of patience, time ultimately ran out for the Latvian.
He leaves as the Rays third top pointscorer with 14 goals, 19 assists and 33 points from 39 games.
Of the 23 year old, player-coach Cloutier said:
"Janis is a good player and made a great start for us but he has struggled for the last couple of months. I just felt it was time to make a change and we wish Janis all the best for the future."The timing of the release is somewhat interesting, with Kurtis Dulle suspended for Wednesday's key fixture against Edinburgh Capitals after a debatable check-to-the-head against Fife - which may yet be appealed - and three signing attempts fallen through.
Nevertheless, it is a well-known fact that Cloutier has been looking for a new forward for the last couple of weeks and a very strong rumour that Ozolins was to be the player to leave, therefore, it may be (and it would be no surprise) that another club was ready waiting to sign him when he was released or indeed that that interest in him is the reason for the sudden release.
Regardless, the Stingrays will face the Edinburgh on Wednesday minus Ozolins and will be hopeful of finding a replacement sooner rather than later if they're to maintain their stuttering playoff push.
