Matīss Kivlenieks

Lore & Background

Kivlenieks began playing ice hockey at age 3 or 4 after watching his cousin's practices, and became a goaltender at age 5. He played one game for HK Prizma Riga in the Latvian Hockey Higher League as a 15-year-old. In 2013, at age 16, he left Latvia to pursue his NHL goal in North American junior hockey, initially playing in the Tier III Minnesota Junior Hockey League. He later joined the Coulee Region Chill of the NAHL and then the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL, where he led the team to the Anderson Cup and was named USHL Goaltender and Player of the Year in 2016–17. Despite going undrafted, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets in May 2017. He made his NHL debut on 19 January 2020, stopping 31 of 32 shots in a 2–1 win over the New York Rangers. His final NHL appearance was a 5–4 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings on 8 May 2021. At the time of his death, he was considered a contender for the Blue Jackets' backup goaltender position.

Reader's Guide

Kivlenieks's significance extends beyond his on-ice achievements. He was the first Latvian-born goaltender to win an NHL game and played a key role in Latvia's historic 2021 World Championship win over Canada. His death on 4 July 2021, caused by a fireworks malfunction at the home of Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace, prompted widespread mourning. Teammate Elvis Merzļikins revealed at Kivlenieks's memorial service that Kivlenieks had shielded others, including Merzļikins's wife and unborn child, from the errant mortar shell. The Blue Jackets and their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, held memorials; a banner honoring Kivlenieks hung at Nationwide Arena for the 2021–22 season. Former teammate Pierre-Luc Dubois changed his jersey number from 18 to 80 to honor Kivlenieks, and Merzļikins wore number 80 for the Latvian national team in his memory. Kivlenieks's legacy is that of a promising young player whose life was tragically cut short while protecting others.

Did You Know?

• Kivlenieks was named best goaltender at the IIHF World Juniors Division I Group A in both 2015 and 2016.
• He led the Sioux City Musketeers to the Anderson Cup and was named USHL Player of the Year in 2016–17.
• He was posthumously honored by the Blue Jackets with a banner that hung at Nationwide Arena for the entire 2021–22 season.