Davidson, Kekalainen discuss 'devastating loss' of Kivlenieks

Blue Jackets president of hockey operations and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen spoke to the media Wednesday about the tragic passing of Matiss Kivlenieks, putting a public face to the grief felt throughout the organization at the CBJ goalie's accidental death earlier this week.
"Our focus has been on family, both Matiss' in Latvia and our own Blue Jackets family here, and we are doing everything we can to support everyone," a visibly emotional Davidson said. "On behalf of my wife and my daughters, who have been extremely helpful, our ownership group led by John P. McConnell and of course (president) Mike Priest, the Blue Jackets organization and I offer our sincerest condolences to the Kivlenieks family, particularly Matiss' mother Astrida.
"I'd also like to thank our fans, the Columbus community and the hockey world for the outpouring of love they've shown Kivi these past three days. It's been spectacular. The prayers and messages of support we've received have been overwhelming and very much appreciated by all of us."

Kivlenieks was in Novi, Mich., when a fireworks accident occurred on the Fourth of July that resulted in his passing. He was there along with fellow Latvian goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, as the two were helping veteran Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace celebrate the wedding of Legace's daughter, Sabrina.
"I ask that you keep the Legace family, who considered Kivi a son and a brother, in your prayers as they are understandably distraught," Davidson said. "I would also ask you do the same for Elvis Merzlikins and his wife, Aleksandra. They were Kivi's closest friends, and they were with him that night. This is a devastating loss for them and for all of us, and one that will always be with us."
The Blue Jackets have made professional help available to those who may need it, and the organization continues to work with the Kivlenieks family -- with the help of the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation -- to set up final memorial service plans, which they hope to finish shortly.
In addition, CBJ head coach Brad Larsen drove to Michigan from Columbus on Monday morning to spend time with Legace and Merzlikins.
"A gigantic, huge thank you to our coach Brad Larsen," Davidson said. "He has been there with the families and supporting and leading and showing compassion. This is a spectacular person for what he's done."
Kivlenieks played his first eight games in a Blue Jackets sweater over the past two seasons and was considered someone who had the potential to be a full-time NHLer, Kekalainen said Wednesday, with many believing the backup role at the NHL level was ready to be handed to Kivlenieks the upcoming season.
Just 24-years-old, Kivlenieks spent most of the past four seasons with the American Hockey League's Cleveland Monsters, playing 85 games during that time. He made his NHL debut in early 2020 against a New York Rangers team then led by Davidson.
Despite the pressure of the situation, playing for a team in the midst of a playoff chase that had won four games in a row, Kivlenieks delivered a standout debut performance, stopping 31 of 32 shots while earning his first career victory on that January night against the Rangers.
He went on to finish his NHL career with a 2-2-2 record, .309 goals-against average and .899 save percentage. Kivlenieks spent most of this past season either with Cleveland or as a backup or taxi squad goalie with the Blue Jackets, but he started the final two games of the season for Columbus and got the win in overtime in the season finale.
While he spent much of his time in Columbus waiting his turn, Kivlenieks sported a constant smile that brightened the day of teammates and staff while bringing a tremendous work ethic to the ice each day.
"We always talk about a locker room being such a close space," Kekalainen said. "When you're there every day all season long, it reveals character, and that's the one thing that was so positive about Matiss, that he always had the right attitude, a positive attitude. He came to the rink with a smile on his face whether he was playing or being a backup or just trying to get better every day with the end goal in mind of trying to be an NHL goalie.
"He went through some ups and downs, even in Cleveland, but Matiss went through them with a smile on his face with the right attitude. That's been said by pretty much every player that's made any remarks on the terrible incident. I think that speaks volumes to his character when all of his teammates have said basically the same message about him.
"It's just so sad to have him gone."
Making it to the NHL was likely just the start for Kivlenieks, but even doing that was a triumph against tall odds in his hockey career. With his debut in Madison Square Garden, Kivlenieks became one of just five Latvian-born goalies to have played in an NHL game. Making the path even harder to navigate was the fact he moved from his home country in 2013 to play for a Minnesota-based Tier III junior league that no longer exists and has produced few NHLers in its history.
But he couldn't be stopped from chasing the dream, working his way up the junior ranks in the United States until 2016-17 when he had a breakout campaign for Sioux City of the USHL. Kivlenieks won league MVP honors that year and attracted the attention of NHL scouts, including those from the Blue Jackets, who signed him to a contract that summer.
"About four years ago, we got on a plane -- Jarmo, myself, (former associate GM) Bill Zito and Ian Clark, who was our goalie coach at the time," Davidson remembered. "We flew to Sioux City. We met Jay Grossman, his agent and we met Kivi, and Kivi's eyes were about that big in the restaurant.
"He was just a young man, a kid actually, who had dreams. He wanted to be a major league NHL goaltender. And we wanted to have him come and be a part of the Blue Jackets organization. You could see the passion in his face and hear it in his voice. He had a dream and he lived his dream."