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NHL

Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks saved teammate’s wife’s life: ‘He died as a hero’

By
David Lazar
Published July 16, 2021, 11:16 a.m. ET

Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks died from an errant fireworks mortar blast on July 4 – and it appears he saved at least one more life in the process.

Elvis Merzlikins, Kivlenieks’ teammate prior to his passing, spoke at his memorial service Thursday in Upper Arlington, Ohio, detailing Kivlenieks’ heroism.

“He saved not just many lives, but when it happened, I was standing 20 to 30 feet back of him and I was hugging my wife,” Merzlikins said. “He saved my son. He saved my wife. And he saved me.”

Merzlikins and the 24-year-old Kivlenieks – who grew up about 40 minutes away from each other and are the fourth and fifth goaltenders from Latvia to ever play in the NHL – were good friends. And to honor his friend, Merzlikins is naming his son after Kivlenieks.

“I’m going to have a lot of experiences in my life now, I’m having a little baby coming up,” Merzlikins said. “My son’s second name is going to be Matiss.”

Elvis Merzlikins and Matiss Kivlenieks.
Elvis Merzlikins and Matiss Kivlenieks. Getty Images

Merzlikins’ wife, Aleksandra, is in her third trimester. The couple welcomed Kivlenieks – Merzikins’ “little brother” – into their home, as they lived together in Ohio prior to Kivlenieks’ death.

Thursday’s emotional eulogy was another sad reminder of a life lost too soon.

Matiss Kivlenieks #80 of the Columbus Blue Jackets watches as Elvis Merzlikins warms up before a game against the Hurricanes.
Matiss Kivlenieks #80 of the Columbus Blue Jackets watches as Elvis Merzlikins warms up before a game against the Hurricanes. Getty Images

“If that wasn’t me, or my wife or son, that would be 50 other people. He died as a hero, and that’s not me saying, that was the doctors saying [it],” Merzlikins said. “As [Legace’s daughter] Sabrina said, ‘he saved his last puck.’ I just want to let you know that he was a hero, and he saved a lot of lives. And I’m pretty sure he did that with a smile, because it’s true.”