There was awful news the morning after July 4 from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died on Sunday after an apparent head injury at age 24.
“Kivi was an outstanding young man who greeted every day and everyone with a smile,” Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson said in a statement, “and the impact he had during his four years with our organization will not be forgotten.”
“We are heartbroken,” a Twitter statement from the team read. “Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Kivlenieks — who was undrafted and signed with Columbus in 2017 — played eight career games for the Blue Jackets, going 2-2-2 with a 3.09 GAA and .899 save percentage.
There was reaction from around the NHL world, including from some of his Columbus teammates:
