Veteran Latvian defenseman Artūrs Kulda, 36, has signed to play with HK Dukla Michalovce, the Slovak Extraliga club announced on Tuesday.

“We wanted to strengthen our defense,” said Michalovce sports manager Marek Mašlonka. “The moment the opportunity arose to sign Artūrs Kulda, we did not hesitate and agreed on a contract until the end of the season.”

A seventh-round draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2006, Kulda played junior hockey for the OHL’s Peterborough Petes and played 15 NHL games for the Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets after the franchise’s relocation from Atlanta.

Since 2012, his career has taken him to Russia, Finland, China, Germany and Austria, where he played the last two seasons for Villacher SV. In Michalovce, he joins fellow Latvians Kaspars Daugaviņš, the team captain, and Renārs Krastenbergs. The team also includes former NHL prospects Cliff Pu (Buffalo Sabres) and Topi Rönni (Calgary Flames).

Through 10 games this season, Michalovce is ranked fifth in the 12-team Extraliga.

“Artūrs should bring a wealth of experience to our team,” Mašlonka continued. “His strengths are hard play, good positional solution situations in the defensive zone and accurate passing. Arturs can be used on both sides of the rink and fits into our team both on and off the ice. We believe that he will be one of our defensive leaders and we wish him a successful season.”

A former mainstay on the Latvian national team, Kulda played in eight IIHF World Championships and two Winter Olympics – Beijing 2022 is his most recent international appearance.

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