The Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday addressed “the layers of terribleness” following the tragic death of goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks in a fireworks incident in Novi.
Kivlenieks died Sunday night at the home of Manny Legace, the Blue Jackets goaltending coach and former Detroit Red Wings goalie. An autopsy concluded Kivlenieks suffered percussive injuries to his internal organs as a result of a fireworks explosion. Kivlenieks was 24.
“As we try to get our arms around this unspeakable tragedy that occurred Sunday night, our focus has been on Matiss’ family in Latvia, and our own Blue Jackets family here,” president of hockey operations John Davidson said Wednesday afternoon.