KIVI program to start for the fourth year in a row

In honor of the late Latvian goaltender Matīs Kivlenieks, the Latvian Hockey Federation (LHF), in cooperation with the NHL club Columbus Blue Jackets, will organize a new goaltender engagement project - the KIVI program for the fourth year in a row.

The goal of the program is to introduce the hockey goaltender position to those young hockey players, beginners up to the age of U10, who have not yet played in the goaltender position, but want to try it.

Last year, the KIVI program will take place in three stages this summer - in Tukums, Riga and Daugavpils.

From July 6 to 7, the KIVI program will start in Tukums, where Western clubs will participate (division according to the geographical principle of Latvia), from July 9 to 10 it will take place at the Volvo Sports Center in Riga, but on July 13 and 15 the KIVI program will go to Daugavpils, which is intended for Eastern clubs.

This summer, up to 60 young hockey players who want to try the goaltending position could participate in the KIVI program.

Each of the camps will last two days and will be led by Edgars Lūsiņš, the goaltending coach of the Latvian national team and the German top league Fishtown “Pinguins”. He will also be accompanied by goalkeepers from the Latvian national team, who will help inspire young hockey players and learn about the goaltending game, honoring the legacy left by Matīs.

In the KIVI training processes and work with young hockey players, Lūsiņš will be assisted by Linards Feldbergs, Dilāns Birkāns, Dave Rolovs, Henrijs Ančs, Ēriks Vītols, Regnārs Capars.

By remembering and sincerely commemorating Matīs, the Latvian Hockey Federation finds an opportunity to make hockey more accessible to Latvian children. The Latvian Hockey Federation expresses great gratitude to the Columbus “Blue Jackets” organization for this initiative and will implement the “Kivi bērni” program with great enthusiasm.