Prospect Spotlight: Karlis Cukste

Each winter, the world's top hockey talent gathers to play for their country at the IIHF World Junior Championships. The tournament begins December 26th, co-hosted in Toronto and Montreal.
The Sharks will have some major representation at the World Juniors with the Latvian National Team. Along with forward Rudolfs Balcers, Sharks defense prospect Karlis Cukste will represent Latvia at the tournament.
Cukste was drafted by the Sharks in the 4th round (130th overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. After playing in the USHL, the defenseman joined Quinnipiac University this season.
"We knew when we got him he'd be a good player for us" Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold said in an
October interview with the New Hampshire Register
. "To his credit, he's adapted quickly. He's not our typical defenseman that we normally take. But it's nice to have that kind of size back there."

The freshman defenseman has registered four goals and five assists in 19 games for the Bobcats this season. His +5 rating and 39 blocked shots lead the team, and puts him in the top 15 in the NCAA in blocks as well.
"You watch him play in juniors and he's not flying up and down the ice making skill plays and scoring points," Quinnipiac assistant Bill Riga said. "He's staying home and doing his thing. You get an appreciation for that the more you watch him, the more you study him and the more you talk to people."
He'll have a tough road ahead of him in the World Juniors - Latvia will enter pool play in Group B with United States, Canada, Russia and Slovakia. The games should be another good test for Cukste against top talent, and an opportunity for Sharks fans to see another prospect in the pipeline.
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for the Sharks Prospect Report.