Kivlenieks: Confusion about cause of death

As his club announced on Monday, he died in a “tragic accident” on Sunday evening. A Michigan medical examiner later said the autopsy showed Kivlenieks died of chest trauma from a misdirected fireworks explosion, rather than a fall as authorities had previously reported.

Police in Novi, Michigan, said that fireworks malfunctioned at a private party celebrating the US national holiday. As a result of this, several people escaped from a whirlpool, including Kivlenieks. The deceased slipped while leaving the hot tub and hit his head on the concrete. “At the moment we are assuming a tragic accident,” said Jason Meier of the Novi police. The ice hockey world is in mourning “We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Matiss Kivlenieks, and we extend our deepest condolences to his mother Astrida, family and friends at this devastating time,” said Jackets President John Davidson. Kivlenieks signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets before the 2017/18 season, but played predominantly in the American Hockey League with the Cleveland Monsters. He made his NHL debut on January 19, 2020 and made a total of eight NHL appearances. He most recently represented his country at the home World Cup in Riga. There was a minute's silence at the Stanley Cup Final between Montreal and Tampa Bay. © APA/getty / MARK BLINCH

The NHL also expressed its condolences. “The National Hockey League was shocked to learn of the sudden and tragic death of goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks,” said Commissioner Gary Bettman. “On behalf of the NHL family, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and teammates both in the Blue Jackets organization and in his home country of Latvia.”

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Kivlenieks: Confusion about cause of death

The news spread like wildfire in the ice hockey world on Monday afternoon: Latvia's national ice hockey goalkeeper Matiss Kivlenieks from the NHL club Columbus Blue Jackets died at the age of 24. But initially there was confusion about the cause of death.

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