Matiss Kivlenieks, the goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets, has tragically died at the age of 24. Kivlenieks died after slamming his head on concrete during a fireworks-related activity, according to local police.
“There appears to have been a fireworks malfunction, which caused a group of people to flee from the hot tub, including the deceased, who slipped and hit his head on the concrete,” said Lieutenant Jason Meier of the Novi, Michigan Police Department.
Kivlenieks was mostly a backup in his brief time suiting up in the NHL, but was widely expected to compete for a larger role in the 2022 season.
“Kivi was an outstanding young man who greeted every day and everyone with a smile and the impact he had during his four years with our organization will not be forgotten,” said Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations John Davidson in a public statement.
“On behalf of the NHL family, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and teammates in both the Blue Jackets organization and his native country of Latvia,” said current NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.
Kivlenieks was signed in 2017 and made his NHL debut in 2020. He had been spending his offseason in the U.S.
