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Throughout his 12-year hockey career, Dainis Vasiljevs, 19, has played in his native country of Latvia, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Finland. Since coming to the Kenai River Brown Bears about three weeks ago, Vasiljevs can now add another country to his list.

Having played last season in Finland, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound goaltender said Alaska is similar -- aesthetically anyway.

"The only difference is that everyone speaks English," Vasiljevs said in an interview Thursday.

But language is no problem for Vasiljevs, who had never been to America prior to joining the team. English is just one of four languages he can speak. Latvian, Russian and German are the others. Vasiljevs said he picked up English and German by watching cartoons.

In a few weeks, Vasiljevs will travel to Canada to participate in his sixth World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Vasiljevs has played three times for Latvia's under-18 club and twice for the U-20 team. Latvia's first game is against Canada on Dec. 26. Latvia then takes on Slovakia, the United States and Switzerland. Austria, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland and Russia make up the other five teams in the tourney. The tournament, which will be played in Saskatchewan, culminates on Jan. 5.

Vasiljevs' former coach used to tell the team that playing for the national team requires every player to give top effort at all times and never play selfish, individual hockey. While representing his country is an honor, Vasiljevs said he concentrates just as much for every game, no matter which jersey he wears.

"For me, I think I need to give my fullest all the time," he said.

Playing on a large stage, like the World Juniors in Canada, can be overwhelming at times. During his last tournament with the U-18 team, Vasiljevs said nearly 10,000 fans attended the games. At one point, the entire stadium was doing the wave, he said.

"That was pretty wild," he said.

With all eyes watching players' every move, it takes some adjusting at the beginning of the games, Vasiljevs said.

"Sometimes you feel the pressure because you want to show your best," he said. "It kind of gets to your nerves."

But as a goalie, once he feels the frozen rubber of the first two or three shots, Vasiljevs said he settles down and focuses on the game.

Vasiljevs was first introduced to the North American Hockey League from a former player and acquaintance of his. Acting as a pseudo-agent, his contact began looking for an NAHL team that might be interested in the Latvian net minder.

After getting in contact with the Brown Bears, Vasiljevs e-mailed head coach Oliver David, expressing his interest in relocating to America to play Junior A hockey.

In the wake of a flurry of recent transactions, David has maintained the importance of recruiting players that want to live in Alaska.

"In the building of the team, the important part has been attracting talent -- or talent finding us -- that wants to be here," David said.

The interest in Alaska was there, so David researched Vasiljevs.

"The level he was playing at was definitely reason enough to give him a tryout," David said.

At first, Vasiljevs' mother wasn't too keen on letting her son come to America. But once Vasiljevs told her he could earn a college scholarship, she agreed to let him go. Though playing Division I hockey in college is on Vasiljevs' list of goals, his ultimate aspiration is to play in National Hockey League.

Although he's played just two games with his new team, Vasiljevs is quickly proving himself to be an asset.

Comparing the position to a quarterback in football and pitcher in baseball, David said a goaltender is the central figure of a hockey team.

"That central figure is crucial," he said.

During breakdowns, the goalie has to be the one to keep the team's head above water, he added.

And Vasiljevs did just that Wednesday night against the Alaska Avalanche of Wasilla.

Reflecting on the game film, David said there were several two-minute spans where Vasiljevs made big saves that kept the team in the game. Vasiljevs and the Brownies won the game 3-1.

"That little sequence sparks us for the next six or seven minutes," David said.

In two games, Vasiljevs (1-0-1) has made 62 saves on 65 shots -- a .954 save percentage -- and earned three out of a possible four points for the Brown Bears.

Two games does not qualify Vasiljevs to be listed amongst the league leaders, but the current top save percentage in the league belongs to Marquette's Kevin Kissaw at .941. It's also worth noting that Vasiljevs' two games came against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs and Alaska Avalanche of Wasilla, two of the four teams in the league that have topped 100 goals thus far this season.

"He just keeps us in the game," David said. "He is establishing himself as a guy who can contribute to our team as a central figure."

"I like the atmosphere of the team," Vasiljevs said. "Everyone is dedicated.

"I can see the passion in their eyes," he said. "If I can see the passion in other people's eyes when they train and play, you want to improve yourself even more to help that."