Matiss Kivlenieks, who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, died in an accident in Novi, Mich., on Sunday, the police said.
Matiss Kivlenieks, a goalie with the Columbus Blue Jackets, died on Sunday after being struck with fireworks at a private party in Novi, Mich., the authorities said. He was 24. The police originally thought that Mr. Kivlenieks, who started two games for the National Hockey League team this season, had died from a fall while trying to flee the fireworks, but an autopsy found he had died of chest trauma as a result of a fireworks mortar, according to Lt. Jason Meier of the Novi Police Department. One of the mortar elements tipped toward a hot tub, where multiple people were sitting. They tried to get out of the hot tub, but Mr.
