FORMER SIOUX CITY MUSKETEERS AND NHL GOALIE MATISS KIVLENIEKS HAS DIED IN FIREWORKS ACCIDENT IN MICHIGAN.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE 24-YEAR-OLD RIGA, LATVIA NATIVE DIED SUNDAY NIGHT AFTER BEING STRUCK IN THE CHEST BY A FIREWORKS MORTAR.
AN AUTOPSY SHOWED KIVLENIEKS DIED FROM SEVERE INTERNAL INJURIES.
POLICE IN NOVI, MICHIGAN SAY THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT A PRIVATE HOME.
A MORTAR-STYLE FIREWORKS TILTED AND STARTED TO FIRE TOWARD KIVLENIEKS AND OTHERS WHO WERE IN A HOT TUB AT THE HOME.
POLICE AND HIS NHL TEAM, THE COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS, HAD EARLIER STATED THAT HE DIED SUNDAY NIGHT AFTER SLIPPING AND STRIKING HIS HEAD ON CONCRETE TRYING TO ESCAPE THE FIREWORKS.
THE BLUE JACKETS SIGNED KIVLENIEKS AFTER HE LED THE SIOUX CITY MUSKETEERS TO THE CLARK CUP FINALS IN 2017,
HE COMPILED A 36-7-2 RECORD IN NET IN THE 2016-17 SEASON WITH A SPARKLING 1.85 GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE AND A .933 SAVE PERCENTAGE, THE GREATEST SEASON BY A SIOUX CITY GOALIE IN THE MODERN ERA OF THE UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE.
IT EARNED HIM THE LEAGUE’S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD.
Photo by Upper Deck
