Countrymen, teammates and fellow goalies, Elvis Merzlikins and Matiss Kivlenieks were more than best friends. After Kivlenieks death in a fireworks accident this offseason, Merzlikins must carry on without his "little brother."
Merzlikins pays tribute to Kivlenieks with new goalie mask nhl.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nhl.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Lt. Jason Meier told the Free Press that the calls came in around 10:13 p.m. and paramedics arrived to the scene in 4 minutes and 38 seconds where they found Kivlenieks unresponsive. Kivlenieks was transported to Ascension Providence Hospital in Novi, where he was pronounced dead, Meier said.
Police appear to have redacted some of the audio from the phone calls, including the location of the incident.
While Novi police said an initial investigation indicated that Kivlenieks died after he slipped and fell while fleeing a hot tub following a fireworks malfunction, an autopsy performed Monday found Kivlenieks died from chest trauma from a fireworks mortar blast.
REVEALED: Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks, 24, died after being struck in the chest by firework while sitting in hot tub at home of coach who was hosting daughter s Hawaiian-themed wedding
Michigan police say that 24-year-old Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died after a fireworks accident in a Detroit suburb on Sunday
Kivlenieks was at the home of Blue Jacket goaltending coach Manny Legace, whose daughter Sabrina was getting married on July 4
Police said a mortar-style firework tilted slightly and started to fire toward people during the celebration on Sunday in Novi, Michigan. A police spokesman said alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the mishap
Dramatic 911 calls reveal Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks s final moments dailymail.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailymail.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.