Matiss Kivlenieks: What happened to| Wife| Death Cause…

Matiss Edmunds Kivlenieks was a Latvian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for Prizma Riga of the Latvian Hockey Higher League, the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League, and the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League between 2012 and 2021.

Matiss Kivlenieks: What happened to| Wife| Death Cause

What happened to:

Kivlenieks died from chest trauma with major damage to his heart and lungs after being hit with an errant firework at a July 4 backyard party at the Michigan home of Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace. The party was also a wedding celebration for Legace’s daughter, Sabrina.

In saying Kivlenieks died a hero, Merzlikins noted, “That’s not just what I said. That’s what the doctor said. … And as Sabrina said, he saved his last puck.” While fighting back tears, Legace said Kivlenieks “got to become one of my family. He got to be a brother to my daughter and my son, a great friend to our nephew.”

Wife:

Merzlikins’ wife, Aleksandra, is in her third trimester, and Merzlikins said their son’s second name will be Matiss in honor of his teammate. Kivlenieks was living in Ohio with Merzlikins, who called his fellow Latvian player “my little brother.”

Kivlenieks died from chest trauma with major damage to his heart and lungs after being hit with an errant firework at a July 4 backyard party at the Michigan home of Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace. The party was also a wedding celebration for Legace’s daughter, Sabrina.

Death cause:

Oakland County prosecutors are reviewing the report on the death of Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks, who died July 4 in a fireworks accident at the Novi home of former Detroit Red Wings goaltender Manny Legace.

Kivlenieks died trying to avoid a fireworks shell while escaping a hot tub. Legace, the Blue Jackets’ goalie coach, had a party at his home to celebrate the wedding of his daughter, Sabrina. Legace, who played for the Wings from 2000-2006, has not commented.