Merzlikins using mask to pay tribute to late teammate Kivlenieks

Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins is paying tribute through his mask to late teammate Matiss Kivlenieks this season.

Both Merzlikins and Kivlenieks are from Latvia, and Merzlikins considered Kivlenieks to be like a little brother before his death on July 4 in a fireworks accident. Merzlikins spoke at the service and explained how the firework would have hit him and his pregnant wife had the 24-year-old not been in front of them. They named their baby in honor of him, naming the baby boy Knox Matiss Merzlikins.

The incident happened at Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace's house, where lots of people were brought together in celebration of his daughter Sabrina's wedding. Sabrina had also said something about Kivlenieks making his last save, which is a quote that was placed on Merzlikins' mask for this season.

Elvis Merzlikins will be honouring Matiss Kivlenieks on his goalie mask for the 2021-2022 season. 💙❤️

📽️: @BlueJacketsNHL pic.twitter.com/SW5Hh2rEOi— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 11, 2021

Merzlikins also put other symbols on his mask to honor Kivlenieks including the number 80 with angel wings on the front of the mask and the Blue Jackets goal cannon. Kivlenieks also had the Blue Jackets goal cannon on the side of the mask.

"I want him close to me," Merzlikins told the Blue Jackets' website. "I always want him with me. I know he is going to always be with me and he is going to look on from up there and help me. That's the minimum of what he can do for me because he is not here anymore with us. The passion and love that he had for this game, that is what he is going to do, and I believe that."

"I wanted it to be a really, really similar mask to what he had. He was my little brother. He's always going to be with me."

Elvis honors Kivi ⬇️https://t.co/AfiXANkrKr— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) September 10, 2021

MUST READ

1 hour ago  |  By Tom Banks Unforeseen Events Nearly Force Toronto Maple Leafs vs Utah Hockey Club Game to be Postponed

2 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks NHL Department of Player Safety Makes Official Ruling On Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes

3 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Canadian Team Unexpectedly Places 6-Foot-3 Enforcer on the NHL Waiver Wire

4 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Elliotte Friedman Hints at Trade of 30 Million Dollar Defenseman to Canadian Team

7 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch 900-Game NHL Veteran Likely to Retire After Refusing to Sign With Canadian Team

7 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Addresses Struggling Player Nick Robertson in New Interview

9 hours ago  |  By Julien Trekker Terrifying Scene for Carolina Hurricanes Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov as He Blacks Out on the Ice

23 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Angry John Tortorella Calls Out One Flyers Player: Trade is Likely Per Elliotte Friedman

MORE STORIES