1. Home
  2. News
  3. FORMER K-WING MATISS KIVLENIEKS MAKES NHL DEBUT

FORMER K-WING MATISS KIVLENIEKS MAKES NHL DEBUT

Monday, January 20th
FORMER K-WING MATISS KIVLENIEKS MAKES NHL DEBUT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 20, 2020

FORMER K-WING MATISS KIVLENIEKS MAKES NHL DEBUT

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender wins first NHL start Sunday, after appearing in eight games for Kalamazoo last season.

NEW YORK, NY – Former Kalamazoo Wings goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks became the 16th player in the team’s ECHL history to play a game in the National Hockey League, when he started for the Columbus Blue Jackets and made 31 saves in a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Kivlenieks, 23, also became the 673rd player in ECHL history to appear in a NHL game, and the 11th during the 2019-20 season. The Riga, Latvia native went 5-3-0 with a 2.71 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in eight appearances for Kalamazoo during the 2018-19 season.

The 6-foot-2, 178-pound goaltender has also played in 73 American Hockey League games with the Cleveland Monsters since 2017-18. Kivlenieks has a career record of 25-32-7 with a 3.26 goals-against average and .889 save percentage in the AHL.

Two former Kalamazoo Wings made NHL opening day rosters in 2019-20, including Stanley Cup Champion goaltender Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues and Yanni Gourde of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

--

Kalamazoo Wings 3-Packs are now available online! Reserve your tickets for the three biggest games in the best seats with the best eats. Visit kwings.com for more information about all the perks that come with a K-Wings 3-Pack!

###

Upcoming Home Games

Full Schedule
Fort Wayne Komets
Kalamazoo Wings
Saturday, October 18th
Fort Wayne Komets @ Kalamazoo Wings
Puck Drops:
4:30 PM EDT
Wings Event Center
Fort Wayne Komets
FW Fort Wayne Komets
at
Kalamazoo Wings
KAL Kalamazoo Wings
Wings Event Center
Iowa Heartlanders
Kalamazoo Wings
Friday, October 24th
Iowa Heartlanders @ Kalamazoo Wings
Puck Drops:
7:00 PM EDT
Wings Event Center
Iowa Heartlanders
IA Iowa Heartlanders
at
Kalamazoo Wings
KAL Kalamazoo Wings
Wings Event Center
Iowa Heartlanders
Kalamazoo Wings
Saturday, October 25th
Iowa Heartlanders @ Kalamazoo Wings
Puck Drops:
4:30 PM EDT
Wings Event Center
Iowa Heartlanders
IA Iowa Heartlanders
at
Kalamazoo Wings
KAL Kalamazoo Wings
Wings Event Center

Latest News

More News
GREENLEAF HOSPITALITY GROUP UNVEILS KALAMAZOO EVENT CENTER WEBSITE
GREENLEAF HOSPITALITY GROUP UNVEILS KALAMAZOO EVENT CENTER WEBSITE
CADEAU EARNS BABIK AWARD, ECHL MEDIA/PR DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
CADEAU EARNS BABIK AWARD, ECHL MEDIA/PR DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
K-WINGS ANNOUNCE 2025-26 SCHEDULE CHANGE WITH CYCLONES IN FEBRUARY
K-WINGS ANNOUNCE 2025-26 SCHEDULE CHANGE WITH CYCLONES IN FEBRUARY

Get Hockey Updates

Sign up for our email newsletter to be the first to know about news and upcoming games!