After playing in only 2 games during the 1986–1987 season Irbe got a chance to become Dinamo Riga's number one goaltender during the 1987–1988 season when their starting goaltender and Olympic champion, Vitali Samoilov went down with a long term injury.
Vitali Klitschko | Alvaro Vitali | Giuseppe Vitali | Vitali Smirnov | Vitali Samoilov | Vitali Kaleshin | Lewis' title defense against Vitali Klitschko |