Coach John Olver has announced that Idaho Junior Steelheads defenseman Arturs Apfelbaums will be leaving the team temporarily to pursue opportunities with his national U20 teams.

The Riga, Latvia, resident, who has scored 3 goals and 11 assists in 18 games, will go to Canada on or about December 17 to try out for Team Latvia U20.  The team will play in the U20 World Junior Championships in Montreal and Toronto from December 26 through January 5, 2017.