Matiss Kivlenieks came to the USA at the age of 16. In May 2017, Matiss signed a three-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL, and will start the upcoming season with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. Last season, Kivlenieks was named USHL Most Valuable Player and Top Goaltender of the season. Matiss was the top goaltender in goals allowed per game and save percentage, tied for first in the league. He broke the Musketeers' team record in the stat category. Kivlenieks played 43 games in the American Hockey League during the 2017-18 season, averaging 3.21 goals and 89.1% shots on goal. In the 2018-19 season, the 22-year-old Kivlenieks played 14 games in the American Hockey League, with an average of 87.3% face-off percentage. After a disappointing start to the season, Kivlenieks was sent to the Kalamazoo Wings with the intention of getting more game practice. The 2019-20 campaign marked the seventh season for the 23-year-old in North American hockey. Matiss made his NHL debut on 19 January 2020 with an away win against the New York Rangers and was named the game's second star in his debut game. Kivlenieks played in six games in his NHL debut season, averaging 2.95 goals per game and 89.8% of the shots he faced. In total, Kivlenieks played eight games in the NHL, defending 89.9% of shots and averaging 3.09 goals.In early July 2021, Kivlenieks was killed in an accident during the US Independence Day celebrations. The cause of Matiss' death, listed in the autopsy, was a "firework shell explosion", chest trauma.
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TIMELINE:
00:00 - Going to North America
00:10 - Blue Jackets contract
00:20 - USHL Most Valuable Player
00:55 - USHL All Stars
01:40 - Ian Clark on Kivlenieks
02:00 - Kivlenieks about idols
02:40 - First steps to the NHL
03:45 - First season in the AHL
04:23 - Second professional season in America
04:55 - 7th season in North America
05:23 - NHL debut against the Rangers
06:23 - Jeff Svoboda
07:09 - Coach Balins
07:32 - Death of Kivlenieks
08:00 - Merzlikins
08:20 - Blue Jackets and Monsters memorial
09:02 - Merzlikins changes number
09:20 - Kivlenieks memorial banner
09:50 - Mom about Son
10:17 - Latvia defeats Canada