Dans Locmelis was born on January 21, 2004, in Jelgava, Latvia. His brother Ingus is an 18-year-old defenseman who plays for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Dans Locmelis played for Lulea in the U16 Elite League during the 2019-20 season and had a breakout campaign with 34 goals and 28 assists in 24 games. This output bought the forward a chance to play six games for the J18 team. During the COVID year of 2020-21, Locmelis played just 21 games, nine of them being with HK Mogo in his native Latvia.
During the 2021-22 season, Locmelis was back to producing offensively with 18 goals and 16 assists in 44 games for Lulea J20 in the J20 Nationell League. In 14 total international games with Team Latvia, the 6-foot, 172-pound center scored three goals with three assists.
In 2022-23, Locmelis was named assistant captain and had a terrific year with 25 goals and 34 assists in 44 games. Locmelis was now an NHL draft prospect, and Elite Prospects described Locmelis as a player who “uses crossovers on the rush to keep his approach deceptive. He uses the width of the ice, scans for teammates, and passes to them early in transition sequences. He protects pucks in the offensive zone, attacks gaps in coverage, and reloads above the puck when his team loses it. He also keeps his stick in passing lanes to intercept opposing passes”.
Dans Locmelis Drafted 119 Overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2022 NHL Draft
The Boston Bruins selected Dans Locmelis in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. Locmelis was the third center chosen by Boston in that draft. The next May, the left shot forward committee to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, marking the first time he would play for a team in the United States.
Locmelis would sit out the first four games of his collegiate career due to the fact that he played two games in the professional Swedish League, which is an NCAA violation. Locmelis scored two goals in his first six games with the Minutemen.
Season 4. Episode 28. A Major Announcement – Bruins Benders Podcast
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