Novi, Michigan - Matiss Kivlenieks, a young goaltender making his way up the ranks for the Columbus Blue Jackets, was tragically killed over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

The 24-year-old athlete died on Sunday night after a fireworks mishap that occurred during a private, outdoor celebration just northwest of Detroit, Michigan.

According to the Associated Press, Kivlenieks was attending a small get-together and was in a hot tub when a mortar-style firework pointed awkwardly upon its firing, possibly hitting him and others who were also attempting to take cover.

Local emergency medical responders were called in and took Kivlenieks to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

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Initially, local authorities believed he was the victim of head trauma, sustained when he was attempting to clear the fireworks blasts. However, the Oakland County Medical Examiner's office determined that his fatal injuries resulted from severe chest trauma to his heart and lungs, likely caused by the blast from the fireworks.

Speaking in regard to the event during a press conference, Lt. Jason Meier of the Novi Police Department was quoted as saying: "There was some minor injury to his exterior, which would lead us to believe that some portion of the firework made contact with him... At the moment, we're pretty certain this was a tragic accident."

Kivlenieks made his NHL debut in January of last season, getting his first win against the Rangers in Madison Square Garden.

However, he was more known in hockey circles from his time playing between the pipes for his native Latvian National Hockey Team in the IIHF World Championships. After recently earning a spot for the Blue Jackets, he was expected to compete for the starting spot during the upcoming off-season and into the 2021-22 regular season.

"On behalf of the NHL family, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and teammates in both the Blue Jackets organization and his native country of Latvia," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in an official statement.