Autopsy: Fireworks hit Jackets goalie in chest
Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks died of chest trauma from an errant fireworks mortar blast in what authorities described Monday as a tragic accident on the Fourth of July.
Police in Novi, Michigan, said the firework tilted slightly and started to fire toward people nearby Sunday night. Kivlenieks, 24, was in a hot tub and tried to get clear with several other people, police Lt. Jason Meier said. Authorities earlier said the Lativan died of an apparent head injury during a fall, but an autopsy clarified the cause of death.
Firefighters and EMTs got to the private home shortly after 10 p.m. and took Kivlenieks to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Oakland County Medical Examiner’s office reported preliminary autopsy results Monday afternoon.
Before the autopsy, police said Kivlenieks was believed to have slipped and hit his head on concrete while running from a malfunctioning firework.
“At the moment, we’re pretty certain this was a tragic accident,” Meier said.
Meier said the police who responded said there was a “large gathering” at the home but he didn’t have an estimate of how many people were there or how many people police want to speak with.
Kivlenieks joined the Blue Jackets organization in May 2017 after he signed as a free agent. In his eight career games with the team, which included two games last season, he went 2-2-2 with a 3.09 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage. He was seen as a possible No. 2 goalie next season if Joonas Korpisalo or Elvis Merzlikins is traded.
He also played for the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, going 33-35-9 with a 3.31 goals-against average and .896 save percentage in 85 career games, including eight last season.
A native of Riga, Latvia, Kivlenieks most recently represented Latvia this spring at the world hockey championship, in which he played four games.
Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen tweeted: “Life is so precious and can be so fragile. Hug your loved ones today. RIP Matiss, you will be dearly missed.”
John Davidson, president of hockey operations, called it a “devastating time” for the team.
“Kivi was an outstanding young man who greeted every day and everyone with a smile, and the impact he had during his four years with our organization will not be forgotten,” Davidson said.