Tampa, FL – Former Wranglers defenseman Rihards Simanovics has been named to the Tampa Bay Lightning 2024 Development Camp roster.
Rihards Simanovics is one of seven defenseman to make the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2024 Development Camp Roster, and one of three undrafted players on the 32 man roster. On-ice workouts begin on Tuesday, July 2 and will conclude with the annual 3-on-3 tournament on Thursday and Friday. The camp will take place at the TGH Ice Plex with streaming of the 3-on-3 tournament available on TampaBayLightning.com.
Simanovics, 20, played with the Wranglers in the franchise’s second year in the NAHL in 2022-23. The Latvian defenseman played in his home country for the majority of his youth and represented Latvia at the World Junior Championship in 2021-22. He was named Latvia’s best U20 player that season, where he also won a bronze medal in the Latvian League and a silver medal at the U20 (D1A) World Junior Championship.
(Photo by Lauren Corea)
While he only spent one season in the Texas Panhandle, Simanovics had a season to remember in 2022-23, scoring 16 goals and 29 assists for 45 points and a +6 rating in 53 games. He was fifth in team scoring that year and his 16 goals led all NAHL defensemen, which to this point, is the most by any Wranglers defenseman in a single season in franchise history. His 46 points are the second most by a Wranglers defenseman in a single season behind only Pierce Patterson, who scored 57 in that same season.
Following his impressive performance with the Wranglers, he committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at The University of Miami (OH), where he notched 8 assists for the RedHawks in 2023-24.
The full schedule for the Lightning’s Development Camp can be found here, and fans can watch Simanovics in action via livestream on the Lightning’s website on Thursday and Friday when the team’s annual 3-on-3 tournament takes place.