Alexander Kerch was a skilled left-winger with an above average scoring touch and a willingness to stand his ground when the game became physical. He played five games with the Edmonton Oilers in 1993-94 but otherwise was an experienced skater internationally and in various European leagues.
Born in Arkhangelsk, USSR, Kerch played nine years with the Dynamo Riga club. North Americans were introduced to him when he joined his team on exhibition tours of the NHL in 1988-89, 1989-90 and 1990-91. In 1992-93 he suited up for Latvia at the "C' Pool World Championships and was drafted 60th overall by the Edmonton Oilers a few weeks later.
The young forward played five games with Edmonton in 1993-94 but spent most of his time in the AHL with the Cape Breton Oilers. Kerch excelled in the AHL with 62 points in 57 games but opted to return to Europe the next season. He returned to play for Riga and helped Lativia win the "B" Pool World Championship in 1996 which qualified them for the "A" Pool in 1997.
Kerch spent the 1996-97 season with the Landsberg team in Germany where he scored 96 points in 51 games. That spring he scored eight points while helping Latvia finish a respectable seventh out of twelve teams at the 1997 World Championships. Kerch moved to Finland in 1997-98 to plat for Tappara Tampere and helped Latvia place ninth at that year's World Championships. He next moved to Germany to play for the Rivier Lowen club and represent Latvia at the 1999 and 2000 World Championships.
