Multiple sources confirm to ESPN that Matiss Kivlenieks, Blue Jackets goaltender, was at Manny Legace's home when the fireworks incident occurred. It resulted in his tragic death on Sunday.Kivlenieks and his teammate Elvis Merzlikins went to Novi, Michigan to celebrate the Fourth of July as well as the wedding celebrations of Legace's daughter.Legace, 48, is a Blue Jackets player since 2018. He had an 11-year NHL record, which included a Stanley Cup title with Detroit in 2002.On Monday, an autopsy revealed that Kivlenieks suffered from chest trauma after a mortar-style firework was set off at a backyard party. Kivlenieks was 24.On Monday, Lt. Jason Meier from the Novi Police Department said that Kivlenieks tried to escape the firework with the help of several others. Meier said that all signs indicated that the incident was a tragic accident. Kivlenieks suffered severe damage to their heart and lungs from the percussive trauma.Kivlenieks was friends with Merzlikins (a Latvian native) and Aleksandra, his wife. Kivlenieks stayed with the couple while he was in the United States for the summer.On Monday, support pouring in from all corners of hockey for the Blue Jackets and Kivlenieks organizations was overwhelming. For a temporary memorial, fans brought signs, flowers and balloons, as well as sticks and sticks, to Nationwide Arena's front door. Before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, Monday night at the Bell Centre, a moment of silence was observed in Kivlenieks’s memory. After his overtime loss, Jon Cooper, Lightning coach, made remarks about Kivlenieks.Cooper stated, "I just wanted to send our deepest condolences for the Kivlenieks family." It's a terrible tragedy for any family, and anyone to experience that. We send our condolences to anyone in the NHL family as we are all so close.Kivlenieks was undrafted and signed as a free agent with Columbus in 2017. On Jan. 19, 2020, he made his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden. He stopped 31 of 32 shots to defeat the New York Rangers by a score of 2-1.The Blue Jackets expected the goalie to play in the 2021-22 season. He was part of two games played last season. Latvia hosted the World Championships in Latvia, where he was a goalie.John Davidson, Blue Jackets president of hockey operations, said that Kivlenieks was "an outstanding young person who greeted everyone with a smile every day.""The impact he made during his four years in our organization will never be forgotten," Davidson stated.Former Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno echoed this sentiment.Foligno said that one thing he loved and appreciated was his smile and ability to keep you smiling. It's cliché, but this is exactly what he was. He was living his dream as a 24-year old, enjoying every moment of it. It is hard to believe that he took any day for granted. We are praying for his family, and all those who knew him. It was a difficult day for many people at that organization.
