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COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Blue Jackets learned of Matiss Kivlenieks’ death around midnight on Sunday, less than two hours after a fireworks mishap took his life in the backyard of goaltending coach Manny Legace’s home in Novi, Mich.
A few hours later, before the sun had risen and before the tragedy was known to most of the hockey world, Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen was driving to Michigan.
“Going to see them had nothing to do with me being a coach,” Larsen told The Athletic, pausing frequently to fight back tears. “You know they’re hurting so bad … and there’s nothing you can say to make it any better.