Former Minnesota hockey coach, friends remember Columbus Blue Jackets goalkeeper Matiss Kivlenieks

With the Lakers in 2014-15, Kivlenieks played in 33 matches and gave 930 percent savings.

The former coach said he could tell Kivlenieks had the skills and want to get into the NHL.

“He’s a good inspiration for many kids, and he walked the hardest path you could take to get there and persevere through it,” Canfield said.

“We really miss her already,” said Kelsey Witt, who worked on social media for teams played by Kivlenieks in Minnesota, including the Edina Lakers.

“His hard work, his dedication to the game was a love that no one else, the time he spent with his fans, young children after the game,” Witt said.

Kivlenieks made his NHL debut in January 2020 against the New York Rangers, winning 2-1.

Scott Halvorson met Kivlenieks while working with the Lakers hockey organization.

“He’s a drifted, restless kid who drove to sleep and achieved it,” Halvorson said.

Police in Novi, Michigan, said the fireworks tilted slightly and began firing at nearby people on Sunday night. 24-year-old Kivlenieks was in the hot tub and tried to find out with several other people, Police Lieutenant Jason Meier said.

According to authorities, the Latvian had died during the fall from an obvious head injury, but the autopsy clarified the cause of death.

Columbus CEO Jarmo Kekalainen tweeted: “Life is so precious and can be so delicate. Hug your loved ones today. RIP Matiss, I miss you so much.”

Blue Jackets John Davidson, director of hockey operations, called it a “devastating time” for the team.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.