Koba Jass (born 1 May 1990) is a Latvian professional ice‑hockey forward who plays as a left winger. As of the latest available information, he is a member of HK Kurbads in the Latvian Hockey Higher League and has won the Latvian championship twice.
Early life and background
Jass was born in Riga, then part of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic in the Soviet Union. He is of Georgian descent through his father and Romani descent through his mother. His cousins, Māris Jass and Mareks Jass, are also professional ice‑hockey players.
Club career
- 2007–2009 – Began his senior career with ASK Ogre, competing in the Latvian championships.
- 2009–2010 – Played for Dinamo Juniors Riga in the Belarusian Extraleague, serving as one of the team’s assistant captains.
- 2010–2011 – Joined Liepāja Metalurgs, also competing in the Belarusian Extraleague and the Latvian league’s second team.
- 2011–2012 – Signed with Kazzinc‑Torpedo of the Supreme Hockey League (VHL) in Kazakhstan, also appearing for its junior affiliate.
- 2012–2013 – After an unsuccessful trial with KHL club Dinamo Riga, he played for HK Žilina in the Slovak Extraleague and later for HC Kladno in the Czech Extraliga.
- 2013–2015 – Played for HC Bílí Tygři Liberec in the Czech Extraliga, with a brief loan to HC Benátky nad Jizerou.
- 2015–2017 – Represented several clubs in Slovakia, including HK Skalica, MHC Mountfield, and HC Nové Zámky, as well as a stint with the Mississippi RiverKings of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) in the United States.
- 2018–present – Returned to Latvia, joining HK Kurbads and later HK Olimp/Venta 2002, continuing to compete in the Latvian Hockey Higher League.
International play
Jass has represented Latvia on multiple occasions:
- Participated in the 2009 World Junior Championship.
- Competed in the IIHF World Championships in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
- Played for the Latvian men’s national team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, appearing in three games.
Personal life
Beyond his own career, Jass comes from a family with a strong ice‑hockey tradition; his cousins Māris and Mareks Jass have also played professionally. His multicultural heritage includes Georgian and Romani ancestry.
Career statistics
Jass’s recorded statistics span regular seasons and playoffs across multiple leagues, encompassing over 400 professional games, with contributions as both a goal scorer and playmaker. Detailed season‑by‑season data are available through hockey databases such as Elite Prospects and the International Ice Hockey Federation records.