Matiss Kivlenieks #80 of the Columbus Blue Jackets looks on during the game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on May 8, 2021. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) MICHIGAN - Latvia's Matiss Kivlenieks, a candidate to be the Columbus Blue Jackets' future goaltender, died in Michigan on Sunday night after fleeing a hot tub and hitting his head following a Fourth of July fireworks accident.
He was 24.Lt. Jason Meier tells The Associated Press a mortar-style firework tilted slightly and started to fire toward people nearby.Kivlenieks was in a hot tub and fled with several other people, but he slipped and hit his head on concrete, police in Novi, Michigan, told.