title: Kristiāns Pelšs
text: # Kristiāns Pelšs
  
  Kristiāns Pelšs (9 September 1992 – 11 June 2013) was a Latvian ice hockey player. He was the son of poet and translator Einārs Pelšs. At the time of his death, he played for the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League.
  
  ## Playing career
  
  Pelšs was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the 7th round (181st overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. He made his European Elite debut with DHK Latgale of the Belarusian Extraleague during the 2008-09 season. In 2010, he moved to North America and signed to play major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Edmonton Oil Kings.
  
  Pelšs participated at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships as a member of the Latvia men's national junior ice hockey team.
  
  On 1 May 2012, it was announced that Pelšs signed a three-year entry level contract with the Edmonton Oilers.
  
  ## Death
  
  On 11 June 2013, Pelšs drowned in the Daugava River after leaping from the Stone Bridge in Riga, Latvia. It was confirmed that Pelšs' death was accidental.
  
  The Oil Kings established the Kristians Pelss Memorial Award in his honour, which is given "to the player who best exemplifies the traits" of Pelss.
  
  ## Career statistics
  
  ### Regular season and playoffs
  
  | | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
  | 2008–09 | DHK Latgale | LHL | 31 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
  | 2009–10 | Dinamo-Juniors Riga | BXL | 46 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — |
  | 2010–11 | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | 63 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
  | 2011–12 | Edmonton Oil Kings | WHL | 63 | 28 | 22 | 50 | 95 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
  | 2012–13 | Oklahoma City Barons | AHL | 20 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
  | 2012–13 | Stockton Thunder | ECHL | 13 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
  | AHL totals | AHL totals | AHL totals | 20 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
  | ECHL totals | ECHL totals | ECHL totals | 13 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
  | WHL totals | WHL totals | WHL totals | 126 | 42 | 41 | 83 | 126 | 21 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 10 |
  
  ### International
  
  | Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 2009 | Latvia | U18 D1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
  | 2010 | Latvia | U18 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
  | 2011 | Latvia | WJC D1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 31 |
  | 2012 | Latvia | WJC | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
  | Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 21 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 45 |
  