In an interview played this morning, Kevin Weekes talked about his experiences working with Arturs Irbe.

Apparently Irbe repaired his own equipment between periods, on the plane, in his hotel room, using a hook needle and thread. Pillow pads, glove, helmet, he maintained and repaired it all.

Weekes for a while thought it was something Irbe did for nerves, or for focus, but it turns out it was more because of the way things were in Latvia for him starting out: he really didn't really have access to a lot of new goalie equipment and he had to do a lot of his own maintenance.

He considers Irbe the "Rocky" of NHL goaltenders in that he was too small, and came from the wrong place at the wrong time.

Those glove repair skills could've come in handy with Varlamov this past post season...