Kivlenieks goaltending camps keep memory of the late goalie alive

In the history of Latvian hockey, many of the top players have gravitated toward keeping the puck out of the net.

The country's lineage of goaltenders is impressive, from the legendary Arturs Irbe to Blue Jackets netminder Elvis Merzlikins. In all, three of the top 10 players from the country as far as NHL games played are goalies, not forwards or defensemen.

Matiss Kivlenieks looked well on the way to joining that list, with the young Blue Jackets goalie showing promise in his eight NHL games in 2020 and '21. In Latvia, he is remembered for his shutout of Canada in the 2021 IIHF World Championship on home soil, the country's first-ever win vs. the world hockey power.

"He's in everybody's memory forever," said Toms Broks, competitions director for the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation.

Unfortunately, Blue Jackets fans know Kivlenieks' story, as he passed away tragically July 4, 2021, at age 24, just weeks after winning his last NHL start as well as earning that historic international victory.

But Kivlenieks' legacy lives on not just in Columbus but his home country. A tangible example of that was put into action in July, as the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation staged the first "KIVI" goaltending camps for kids in the country who want to play the sport.

Created in part thanks to fundraising from the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation's Matiss Kivlenieks Memorial Fund, the camps this year allowed 32 kids under the age of 10 to strap on the pads for the first time.

The hope is opportunity will beget success, with the belief some of the youngsters who took part will follow in the late goaltender's footsteps in becoming high-level netminders down the road.

"The idea that we came up with was the best way to keep his memory and remember Matiss would be if we would make an opportunity for kids under 10 years of age to try what it's like to be a goalkeeper," said Broks, who oversaw the implementation of the program. "The goal was maybe some of those kids who participated will say being a goalie is pretty cool, and maybe they will keep doing that.

"And right away during these camps, some of the kids already told their parents, 'I want to be a goalie.' That was the whole goal of what we were trying to do."

The federation put together two separate camps featuring 16 goalies apiece, including two girls. Twenty-two different hockey clubs/schools from around the country sent kids to the camps, with one held in the capital of Riga and one about 45 minutes away in Jelgava.

The young netminders had to bring skates but were provided with all other goaltending equipment. Sessions included skating lessons, a few introductory lessons on shot stopping, and dry-land training including stretching and workouts.

The head coach of the program was Edgars Lusins, the leader of the country's Under-18 program, while he was assisted by Latvian U-20 and U-18 netminders Bruno Bruveris, Patriks Berzins, Deivs Rolovs, Linards Feldbergs and Eriks Vitols.

In addition, two former teammates of Kivlenieks and members of the 2023 Latvian bronze medal squad at the World Championships -- Rodrigo Abols and Krisitans Rubins -- spoke to the camps about their memories of the goalie. Campers were shown a highlight video of Kivlenieks' accomplishments in his career, and all of them signed a jersey that will be presented to Kivlenieks' mother Astrida.

Broks said it excites him to think of the impact the camps might have on the country's development in the sport. Hockey is one of the most viewed spectator sports in the country, if not the most popular, and that bronze-medal performance at this spring's Worlds set off celebrations across Latvia.

A retired professional goalie himself who played in his home country as well as Sweden and Switzerland, Broks said the country takes pride in its netminding lineage.

"I don't know if I am the right person to ask because I was a goalie myself," he said with a smile. "I am definitely all for goalies, but it seems that we have had some talent there. It's incredible how lucky we have been with all the great and talented goalies throughout the years. Arturs Irbe, he was the big inspiration for my generation, but then Elvis comes up and Matiss comes up and also (former NHL goalie Kirsters) Gudlevskis and Arturs Silovs, who got the MVP for the world championships. It's incredible."

Broks also made clear that the camps would not have been possible without help from the Blue Jackets, and the jerseys and shirts worn at the camp were adorned with the CBJ Foundation's logo. After Kivlenieks' passing, a fundraising drive by the foundation helped raise money that helped lead to the implementation of the program.

"It was really cool for us to get that support, and that's why we are mentioning it wherever we can, that it was together with the Columbus (Blue Jackets) Foundation," Broks said. "For the kids as well, when they see the Columbus logo anywhere, they're like, 'Oh wow, this is something that is serious.' And that's how we want to present it."

Broks said the hope is not just to keep the camps going but to expand them in future years, with the goal to stage them all throughout the country as interest grows. Already, though, the Latvian Hockey Federation is encouraged by the returns.

"All the kids were super excited, and a couple of them are probably already starting to ask their parents for goalie gear," Broks said. "Parents one after another came up to me and said it was so cool that we had such a thing, that maybe some of the kids would like to try out what it's like to be a goalie, but they don't have a chance. This is the perfect way to do it."