Knox's pads are replicas of his dad's, complete with the red, white and blue flag and silhouette of the Columbus skyline. He was also dressed in team colors and photographed on a Blue Jackets alternate cannon-logo jersey.
Knox was given his middle name, Matiss, after Merzlikins' late teammate, Matiss Kivlenieks, who died July 4 while saving bystanders during a fireworks accident. Merzlikins said during his eulogy that
Kivlenieks "died a hero."
Kivlenieks, like Merzlikins, was a goalie and native of Latvia.