On Monday, the talented hockey goalkeeper Matiss Kivlenieks, who caught later world champions from Canada at this year’s championship in Riga, died unexpectedly.
His death was reported by the Latvian Hockey Federation and the Columbus leadership, according to which Kivlenieks injured his head in an unfortunate fall. Not even the summoned rescuers saved his life.
Kivlenieks has been involved in lower overseas competitions since the age of sixteen, but in the last two seasons he has already received eight opportunities in the first team of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
He was twice nominated to the Latvian squad for the World Championships, but he only caught on this year. In four matches, he maintained an average of 2.18 goals per match and a success rate of 92.2%. During Latvia’s victory over Canada in the basic group, he flashed a shutout.
“We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Matisse Kivlenieks, and at this overwhelming time we express our deepest sympathies to his mother, Astrida, family and friends,” said Columbus President John Davidson. “Kiwi was an excellent young man who welcomed everyone every day and with a smile. We will never forget his four years at our club,” he added.
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