Playing career

Balderis played in the Soviet Hockey League for Dinamo Rīga (1969-77 and 1980-85) and CSKA Moscow (1977-80). He was the leading scorer in the 1977 and 1984 seasons, winning the Player of the Year award in 1977. He was the best Latvian player of the 1970s and 1980s and the most prolific scorer from that nation, tallying 333 goals in Soviet league play.

Balderis played for the Soviet national team, on the losing side of the Miracle on Ice game in 1980 but winning World Championships in 1978, 1979 and 1983. Balderis represented the Soviet Union in five IIHF World Championships (1976-1979, 1983), 1976 Canada Cup and 1980 Winter Olympics. He was named Best Forward in the 1977 World Championships. He was not selected for the USSR's 1984 Olympic team and played in only one major international tournament after he left CSKA Moscow to go back to play for Dinamo Riga in 1980.

In 1985, Balderis retired and became a coach in Japan. He returned in 1989, when Soviet players were allowed to play in the NHL. Balderis was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars, playing 26 games and scored 3 goals with 6 assists. He became the oldest ever player drafted by an NHL team (36) and the oldest player to score his first goal (37). He retired again after one season in Minnesota, but came out of retirement for the second time when Latvia regained its independence. Balderis played several games for the newly created Latvian national team (in 1992), serving as its captain and scoring 2 goals. He later coached the team and served as its general manager. He is currently a member of the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation (Latvijas Hokeja Federācija; LHF).

In 1998, he was inducted into IIHF International Hockey Hall of Fame.

Awards

• Soviet league First All-Star Team (1977)
• Izvestia Trophy (Soviet league top scorer) (1977, 1983)
• Soviet league player of the year (1977)
• World Championships All-Star Team (1977)
• Named Best Forward at World Championships (1977)
• Leading scorer of the Latvian league (1993)

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1967-68	Dinamo Riga	Soviet-2		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1968-69	Dinamo Riga	Soviet-3		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1969-70	Dinamo Riga	Soviet-2		—	12	—	12	—		—	—	—	—	—
1970-71	Dinamo Riga	Soviet-2		—	10	—	10	—		—	—	—	—	—
1971-72	Dinamo Riga	Soviet-2		—	14	9	23	—		—	—	—	—	—
1972-73	Dinamo Riga	Soviet-2		—	27	15	42	—		—	—	—	—	—
1973-74	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		24	9	6	15	13		—	—	—	—	—
1974-75	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		36	34	14	48	20		—	—	—	—	—
1975-76	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		36	31	14	45	18		—	—	—	—	—
1976-77	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		35	40	23	63	57		—	—	—	—	—
1977-78	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		36	17	17	34	30		—	—	—	—	—
1978-79	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		41	24	24	48	53		—	—	—	—	—
1979-80	CSKA Moscow	Soviet		42	26	35	61	21		—	—	—	—	—
1980-81	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		44	26	24	50	28		—	—	—	—	—
1981-82	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		41	24	19	43	48		9	15	5	20	2
1982-83	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		40	32	31	63	39		—	—	—	—	—
1983-84	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		39	24	15	39	18		—	—	—	—	—
1984-85	Dinamo Riga	Soviet		39	31	20	51	52		—	—	—	—	—
1989-90	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		26	3	6	9	2		—	—	—	—	—
1991-92	HK Sāga Ķekava Riga	Latvia		7	23	18	41	27		—	—	—	—	—
1991-92	RSHVM-Energo Riga	CIS-3		16	14	12	26	10		—	—	—	—	—
1991-92	Vecmeistars Riga	Latvia		7	23	18	41	27		—	—	—	—	—
1992-93	Latvijas zelts Riga	Latvia		22	76	66	142	16		—	—	—	—	—
1993-94	Latvijas zelts Riga	Latvia		7	9	9	18	39		—	—	—	—	—
1994-95	Essamika Ogre	Latvia		1	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1995-96	Essamika Ogre	Latvia		30	18	36	54	—		—	—	—	—	—
Latvia totals				53	126	130	256	—		—	—	—	—	—
Soviet totals				462	333	247	580	399		9	15	5	20	2

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1971	Soviet Union	EJC		5	10	1	11	4
1976	Soviet Union	WC		10	3	7	10	6
1976	Soviet Union	CC		5	2	3	5	6
1977	Soviet Union	WC		9	8	7	15	4
1978	Soviet Union	WC		10	9	2	11	8
1979	Soviet Union	Ch-Cup		3	1	1	2	0
1979	Soviet Union	WC		8	4	5	9	9
1980	Soviet Union	Super-S		5	5	2	7	2
1980	Soviet Union	OLY		7	5	4	9	5
1983	Soviet Union	WC		10	4	5	9	22
Senior totals				67	41	36	77	52

[ Source: Wikipedia ]