COLUMBUS – A memorial service is planned for later this week for Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks, who was killed in a fireworks accident in Michigan July 4.
Police in the town where the accident happened have turned the findings of their investigation over to a prosecutor for review, though Novi police consider Kivlenieks’ death an accident.
There will be a private memorial service limited to family, friends and invited guests for Kivlenieks at an Upper Arlington funeral home July 15. It will be streamed live on BlueJackets.com.
The Blue Jackets, the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation and the McConnell family have established a memorial fund in Kivlenieks’ memory. Contributions will support youth hockey initiatives in Columbus and Kivlenieks’ native Latvia and will be matched up to $80,000.
Novi police Lt. Jason Meier says his department has not requested charges in Kivlenieks’ death.
He says the death still is considered accidental and the police investigation was complete unless otherwise directed by the Oakland County prosecutor’s office.
The 24-year-old died of chest trauma from an errant fireworks mortar blast. Police have said the firework at the private home of a Blue Jackets assistant coach northwest of Detroit tilted slightly and started to fire toward people nearby.
Kivlenieks was in a hot tub and was trying to move out of the way of the firework when he was struck.