Not exactly the start to your Columbus Blue Jackets career you want if you’re Matiss Kivlenieks. Coming of a record setting year in the USHL as a goalie, being named the top player in the USHL and dominating the playoffs, Matiss was signed and hopes were high for the Latvian.
But life in the pros is tough. And Matiss learned that no matter how well you play, you’re still just one guy that still has to rely on his teammates. Last year, the Cleveland Monsters were terrible to say the least and Matiss faced a ton of high chance opportunities and didn’t have a lot of scoring support.