EHL Rookie of the Year to SPHL Champion
LACONIA, NH — “My hockey path was a little different from most of the players, but anything can be done, if you are ambitious enough and willing to put in work.”
Dominiks Marcinkēvičs, the 2018-2019 Eastern Hockey League Rookie of the Year, has come a long way since he first wore a New England Wolves uniform at the age of seventeen. Now, in his fourth year of American professional hockey, he suits up for the PeeDee Ice Cats of the Federal Prospects Hockey League. He has fourteen points in eight games.
“When Dominiks came over to us, I gave him the opportunity to play a lot right away,” Wolves Head Coach Tim Kunes remembers. “I think he took advantage of that and adapted very quickly. He ended up leading the league in goals, was the Forward of the Year, and the Rookie of the Year. It was a highly successful season for him.”
In 42 games, the Latvian forward strung together 34 goals and 27 assists. He also got to represent the Wolves at the EHL All-Star College Series.
“The first year in America was definitely full of adjustments, on and off the ice,” Marcinkēvičs said. “But the main thing to adjust to was the physical game, which later on I started to enjoy. Development was inevitable with the setup we had in the Wolves organization. I had everything I needed to focus on hockey and get better every day, from the ice practices and ending with the gym setup.”
With a strong foundation in the EHL, Marcinkēvičs played junior hockey for three more seasons. He continued to produce, even at a double point-per-game rate in his final year of juniors. By the 2022-2023 season, he was ready to make the jump to the professional level.
“I knew I had to perform to my best the first year in America to have a great first impression and start building my hockey resume,” he added. “It has always been my goal to play the highest level of hockey, because hockey is my life.”
His professional career began with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dogs of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). There, he tallied 32 points in 53 games and won the SPHL Championship in his first year. He followed that up with a near point-per-game season in 2023-2024.
“The biggest thing that helped me contribute so early in pro was the ability to adjust to the style of the game. I had to listen to the coach and learn quickly to earn my opportunities and build trust.”
During that second season, Marcinkevics earned thirteen games with the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL, where he put up five points. He ended up playing 31 games in the ECHL the following season, mainly for the Atlanta Gladiators.
“The ECHL experience was definitely one of the best,” he said. “I got to be in an NHL affiliate organization and develop in the highest league I’ve played in. I also got to play with some AHL contracted players and got to learn from them. The overall experience was definitely inspiring and taught me a lot about the hockey industry as well.”
As Marcinkēvičs continues to find success, now with the Ice Cats, his progression and production comes as no surprise for his former Coach.
“He’s always had a tremendous work ethic and was a tough kid so I’m not really surprised he’s been able to make a career out of playing hockey,” Kunes said. “He still skates with me in the summers and still maintains that same level of work ethic that has made him successful.”
For Marcinkēvičs, it’s been about constant improvement, focusing on what needs work the most. He likes to examine his game “from the side to see the actual picture.” And it’s a formula that’s worked so far.
To view a list of EHL professional alumni, click here.