Playing career

Irbe was drafted in the 10th round, 196th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.

His first professional hockey team was Dinamo Riga of the Soviet Hockey League (from 1987 to 1991). After playing in only 2 games during the 1986-1987 season Irbe got a chance to become Dinamo Riga's number one goaltender during the 1987-1988 season when their starting goaltender and Olympic champion, Vitali Samoilov went down with a long term injury. In his only full professional season, Irbe was outstanding in helping Dinamo Riga make it to the finals of the Soviet Hockey League where they eventually lost to perennial Soviet champions CSKA Moscow. During this period he also played for the Soviet Union in the World Championships in 1989 and 1990. The Soviet team won those two championships and Irbe was honoured as the best goalkeeper of the 1990 tournament. He refused to play for the Soviet Union in 1991 because Latvia had proclaimed independence from the Soviet Union on May 4, 1990 and the Soviet government attempted to use military force in January 1991 to stop Latvia's independence. When the Moscow government sent tanks rolling to Riga, Irbe was among those who took to the streets and put up barriers to protect buildings, radio stations, TV towers and historical landmarks.

In the 1988-89 season, Irbe travelled to North America with his then club Dinamo Riga to play in a series of exhibition games against NHL teams. The next season (1989-90) he was temporarily added to the CSKA Moscow team during an exhibition tour of North America.

NHL

His NHL career began in 1991. His first NHL team was the San Jose Sharks, he played with them from 1991-92 to 1995-96. With Irbe between the pipes, the newly established Sharks made their first playoff appearance in the 1993-94 season and upset the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings. That season, Irbe played an NHL record 4412 minutes between the pipes for the Sharks. Irbe, affectionately known as Archie, was nicknamed "The Wall" and became a cult figure in San Jose, a status he enjoys there to this day. Following an injury (his hand being mauled by his pet dog in the offseason) and a poor 1995-96 season, Irbe was released by the Sharks.

For the next two years, he was a backup goaltender for the Dallas Stars and the Vancouver Canucks (for whom he played significant stretches with ample success) until he became the starter for the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1998-99 season. Irbe was picked to be a member of the "World" NHL All-Star team in 1998-1999 season, where he became the first goalie to record an assist in an NHL All-Star game. The highest point of his career with the Hurricanes was 2001-02 when Irbe was instrumental in leading the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup finals where they fell to the Detroit Red Wings.

Demotion to ECHL

After a disappointing 2002-03 season, the Hurricanes looked to demote Irbe because they could not move him because of a no-trade clause in his contract. On October 16, 2003, Irbe was assigned to the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL. After going 8-2-1 in 11 games with the Chiefs, Irbe was named as the starter for the Eastern Conference in the 2004 ECHL All-Star Game. However, Irbe was unable to participate due to a wrist injury. On March 19, 2003, Irbe was recalled to the Carolina Hurricanes after goalie Kevin Weekes was placed on the IR due to season-ending hand surgery.

Return to NHL

In June 2004, he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, but never played with the club due to that year's NHL Lockout. After the lockout that canceled the 2004-2005 season, Irbe never played in the NHL again but chose to continue his career in Europe.

Return to Europe

He played for HK Riga 2000 in Latvia and EC Red Bulls Salzburg in Austria during the 2004-05 season. He signed with HK Dynamax Nitra playing in the Slovak Ice Hockey Extraliga, but he decided to leave after his unsatisfactory results.

Equipment

He is notable on the ice for his helmet and padding - he has worn them almost continuously since his NHL debut for the Sharks - which are creased and scuffed with puck marks and stains. He has earned the nickname "Michelin Man" as a result.

In the early 2000s, he placed an ad in the Ottawa Pennysaver seeking any local resident with the famed "Jofa" Goalie mask.

Coaching career

In 2008, Irbe signed a three-year deal with Dinamo Riga and worked as the goaltending coach for the club. In August 2009, Irbe cut ties with Riga and decided to go back to North America to be the goaltending coach of the NHL Washington Capitals after former goaltending coach Dave Prior stepped down due to family reasons.

In 2013, Irbe was named as Ted Nolan's assistant for Latvian national team, but resigned a year after a dispute with president of Latvian Ice Hockey Federation Kirovs Lipmans over his coaching certification. In August 2014, Nolan again hired Irbe as an assistant, this time with the Buffalo Sabres.

Personal

Irbe is also a member of board of directors of the Kids First Fund, a non-profit organization based in the United States which raises money for projects assisting abused and abandoned children in Latvia.

At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Irbe was Latvia's flag-bearer in the opening ceremonies.

Career statistics

_{Bolded numbers indicate season leader}

Regular season

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SV	SO	GAA	SV%
1983-84	Latvijas Berzs Riga	Soviet III		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1984-85	Latvijas Berzs Riga	Soviet III		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1985-86	ShVSM Riga	Soviet III		9	—	—	—	—	20	—	—	—	—
1986-87	ShVSM Riga	Soviet III		47	—	—	—	2,643	134	—	—	3.04	—
1986-87	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		2	—	—	—	27	1	—	0	2.22	—
1987-88	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		34	—	—	—	1,870	86	—	4	2.76	—
1987-88	ShVSM Riga	Soviet III		5	—	—	—	—	11	—	—	3.31	—
1988-89	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		40	—	—	—	2,460	116	—	4	2.83	—
1989-90	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		48	—	—	—	2,880	115	—	2	2.40	—
1990-91	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		46	—	—	—	2,713	133	—	5	2.94	—
1991-92	Kansas City Blades	IHL		32	24	7	1	1,955	80	—	0	2.46	.911
1991-92	San Jose Sharks	NHL		13	2	6	3	645	48	—	0	4.47	.868
1992-93	Kansas City Blades	IHL		6	3	3	0	364	20	—	0	3.30	.876
1992-93	San Jose Sharks	NHL		36	7	26	0	2,074	142	365	1	4.11	.886
1993-94	San Jose Sharks	NHL		74	30	28	16	4,412	209	1,250	3	2.84	.899
1994-95	San Jose Sharks	NHL		38	14	19	3	2,043	111	2,064	4	3.26	.895
1995-96	Kansas City Blades	IHL		4	1	2	1	226	16	1,056	0	4.24	.843
1995-96	San Jose Sharks	NHL		22	4	12	4	1,112	85	607	0	4.59	.860
1996-97	Dallas Stars	NHL		35	17	12	3	1,965	88	825	3	2.69	.893
1997-98	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		41	14	11	6	1,999	91	982	2	2.73	.907
1998-99	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		62	27	20	12	3,643	135	1,753	6	2.22	.923
1999-2000	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		75	34	28	9	4,345	175	1,858	5	2.42	.906
2000-01	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		77	37	29	9	4,406	180	1,947	6	2.45	.908
2001-02	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		51	20	19	11	2,974	126	1,282	3	2.54	.902
2002-03	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		7	3	3	1	427	21	229	0	2.95	.908
2002-03	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		34	7	24	2	1,884	100	816	0	3.18	.877
2003-04	Johnstown Chiefs	ECHL		14	10	3	1	847	30	411	1	2.13	.927
2003-04	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		10	5	2	1	564	23	228	0	2.45	.899
2004-05	HK Riga 2000	BXL		29	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2.04	—
2005-06	HK Riga 2000	BXL		18	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1.95	—
2005-06	EC Red Bull Salzburg	EBHL		17	9	6	1	1,012	35	—	0	2.08	.914
2006-07	SK Riga 20	Latvia		4	0	4	0	240	21	—	0	5.25	—
2006-07	HK Ardo Nitra	SVK		6	1	2	3	249	22	—	0	5.31	.814
Soviet totals				173	—	—	—	9,859	451	—	15	2.74	—
NHL totals				568	218	236	79	32,066	1,513	15,033	33	2.83	.899

Playoffs

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1991-92	Kansas City Blades	IHL		15	12	3	914	44	0	2.89	—
1993-94	San Jose Sharks	NHL		14	7	7	806	50	0	3.72	.875
1994-95	San Jose Sharks	NHL		6	2	4	369	32	0	5.20	.848
1996-97	Dallas Stars	NHL		1	0	0	12	0	0	0.00	1.000
1998-99	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		6	2	4	408	15	0	2.21	.917
2000-01	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		6	2	4	360	20	0	3.34	.900
2001-02	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		18	10	8	1,078	30	1	1.67	.938
2005-06	EC Red Bull Salzburg	EBHL		11	—	—	—	—	—	2.53	.897
NHL totals				51	23	27	2,981	142	1	2.86	.902

International

Year	Team	Event			GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1985	Soviet Union	EJC			5	—	—	—	300	5	—	1.00	—
1989	Soviet Union	WC			3	—	—	—	175	5	0	1.71	—
1990	Soviet Union	WC			6	4	0	1	315	5	1	0.95	.950
1996	Latvia	WC-B			4	3	0	1	240	7	0	1.75	—
1997	Latvia	WC			5	4	0	1	300	10	1	2.00	—
1998	Latvia	WC			6	3	2	1	358	17	1	2.85	—
1999	Latvia	WC			4	2	2	0	238	12	0	3.02	.860
2000	Latvia	WC			5	3	1	1	420	17	0	2.43	.907
2001	Latvia	WC			6	3	2	1	360	13	2	2.17	.924
2002	Latvia	Oly			1	0	1	0	60	4	0	4.00	.862
2003	Latvia	WC			3	2	1	0	180	9	0	3.00	.901
2004	Latvia	WC			5	2	1	2	300	9	0	1.80	.925
2005	Latvia	WC			6	2	3	1	283	7	2	1.48	.944
2006	Latvia	Oly			3	0	2	1	148	14	0	5.68	.833
Senior totals					53	—	—	—	3137	122	7	2.33	—

Super Series statistics

The Super Series were exhibition games between an NHL team and Soviet teams (usually a club from the Soviet Championship League). Irbe competed in two such series.

Year	Team	Event		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA
1988-89	Dynamo Riga	Super-S		7	2	4	1	425	23	0	3.25
1990	CSKA Moscow	Super-S		4	3	1	0	300	18	1	2.50
Super Series totals				11	5	5	1	725	41	1	2.88

Awards

International

Award	Year
EJC Best Goaltender	1985
WC Best Goaltender	1990
IIHF Hall of Fame	2009

Soviet

Award	Year
Rookie of the Year	1988

IHL

Award	Year(s) awarded
Turner Cup	1992
IHL First All-Star Team	1992
James Norris Memorial Trophy (IHL)	1992 (Shared with Wade Flaherty)

NHL

Award	Year
NHL All-Star Game	1994, 1999

San Jose Sharks

Award	Year
Player of the Year	1994

ECHL

Award	Year(s) awarded
ECHL All-Star Game	2004 (DNP, wrist injury)

San Jose

Award	Year
San Jose Sports Hall of Fame	2010

Transactions

• June 17, 1989 - Drafted by Minnesota in the 10th round, 196th overall
• May 30, 1991 - San Jose in National Hockey League dispersal draft
• July 22, 1996 - Signed as free agent by Dallas
• August 5, 1997 - Signed as free agent by Vancouver
• September 10, 1998 - Signed as free agent by Carolina
• February 8, 2003 - Placed on waivers by Hurricanes
• June 16, 2004 - Traded by Hurricanes to Columbus Blue Jackets for future considerations
• December 5, 2005 - Signed as free agent by Salzburg
• November 18, 2014 - Signed as player-coach by Buffalo Sabres on an emergency backup contract

[ Source: Wikipedia ]