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On Sunday, January 19, 2020, during the second stage of the NHL hockey game in New York, the goalkeeper of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Matiss Kivlenieks (80), appeared in the file photo. The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Latvian Hockey Federation stated on Monday, July 5, 2021 that the 24-year-old goalkeeper Matisse Kivleniks has passed away. The team said in a statement that Kivlenix died of obvious head injuries when the medical staff arrived and fell down. It is still unclear what caused the fall or where he was at the time of the incident. The team and the National Federation staff left multiple messages but did not return immediately. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, file)

Matiss Kivlenieks of Latvia, a candidate for the future goalkeeper of the Columbus Blue Jackets, escaped from the hot tub and hit the head after a fireworks accident on July 4 in Michigan on Sunday night. State died. He is 24 years old.

On Monday, police in Novi, Michigan, told the Associated Press that Kieflenix was in a hot tub and ran away with several others, but he slipped and hit his head on the concrete.

Novi Lt. Jason Meier said that the fire department and EMT arrived at the private house at around 10:13 on Sunday evening and took him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

“At the moment, we are pretty sure that this is a tragic accident,” Meyer said.

Blue Jackets and the Latvian Hockey Federation announced the death of Kivlenieks earlier on Monday, and the NHL club stated that this was caused by an obvious head injury during the fall. The team’s statement did not mention fireworks.

Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen wrote on Twitter: “Life is so precious, and it can be so fragile. Hug your loved one today. RIP Matiss, you will miss it very much.”

John Davidson, president of Blue Jackets hockey operations, called this a “destructive moment” for the team.

“Kivi is an outstanding young man, he greets everyone with a smile every day, and the influence he has had during the four years of our organization will not be forgotten,” he said.

“What a tragic loss for all of us who know him, I am thinking and praying for his family,” former Blue Jacket captain Nick Foligno tweeted. “Heaven got a very good goalkeeper and a better person…just, too fast.”

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, “All those who are fortunate enough to be teammates and friends with him will deeply miss Kieflenix’s love of life and passion for the game.”

Kivlenieks recently represented Latvia in the World Hockey Championship this spring, where he played four games. Last season, he played two games for the Blue Jackets and eight games for the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League.

Kivlenix is ??a native of Riga, Latvia. He signed with the Blue Jackets as a free agent in May 2017 and has played for the club for eight teams. The Latvian Hockey Federation called the death of Kivlenieks “not only a huge loss for Latvian hockey, but also a huge loss for the entire Latvian country”.

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