Elvis Merzlikins Reveals Personal Trauma, Struggles with Blue Jackets' Goal Cannon

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Cooper Godin
May 2, 2022 (12:21)

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Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merlikins told reporters during his exit interviews that he struggled at the start of the season when he heard the team's goal cannon go off. This was due to the loss of his friend and teammate Matiss Kivlenieks in a fireworks accident last summer.

Merzlikins said he had a tough time throughout the entire team without his friend.

"I'm gonna be honest, there was a couple games I was just going out there, and I didn't care, because I wasn't there," Merzlikins said. "I was playing hockey. The guys (on the opposing team) are coming (at) me, and I'm thinking, 'Gosh, last year he was here with me, and this year, there's gonna be an empty seat at my table.' It was hard. But they helped me to go through it. Manny helped me a lot to go through that. It's always nice when you have somebody with (whom) you can cry together. That hug that hug is helping you. I think this is a really nice and important thing for me, to have such a good friend as Manny."

When discussing the trauma he was dealing with, including how he felt when the cannon went off after his team scored, Merzlikins said:

"I'm gonna be honest, for the opening night, I didn't have time (to prepare)," Merzlikins said. "We all know what happened to him. When I heard the cannon, my heart I felt my heart. I never heard in my life my heart beating that alive. That was a really weird feeling, what I had."

He added, "I'm gonna be honest even when we scored goals, I was always closing my eyes and getting myself ready. I think that's just the trauma, but it went away. Obviously, now when I hear the cannon, I'm happy. But that was the feeling I had in the start of the season."

It's never easy losing anyone, especially a close friend as Kivlenieks was to Merzlikins. We hope that Merzlikins is able to heal and find peace during times of difficulty.

Source: Sportsnet.

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YESTERDAY APRIL 22, 2026
TOP 20		G	A	PTS
	Cutter Gauthier	2	1	3
	Matt Duchene	1	2	3
	Alexander Killorn	1	2	3
	Jason Robertson	1	2	3
	Jackson Lacombe	-	3	3
	Ryan Poehling	2	-	2
	Noah Cates	1	1	2
	Leon Draisaitl	1	1	2
	Wyatt Johnston	1	1	2
	Mikko Rantanen	1	1	2
	Trevor Zegras	1	1	2
	Sean Couturier	-	2	2
	Jamie Drysdale	-	2	2
	Noah Juulsen	-	2	2
	Joel Eriksson Ek	1	-	1
	Zach Hyman	1	-	1
	Marcus Johansson	1	-	1
	Erik Karlsson	1	-	1
	Evgeni Malkin	1	-	1
	Michael McCarron	1	-	1
COMPLETE STATS

2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS
ATLANTIC		GP	W	L	OL	PTS
	Sabres	82	50	23	9	109
	Lightning	82	50	26	6	106
	Canadiens	82	48	24	10	106
	Bruins	82	45	27	10	100
	Senators	82	44	27	11	99
	Red Wings	82	41	31	10	92
	Panthers	82	40	38	4	84
	Maple Leafs	82	32	36	14	78
METROPOLITAN		GP	W	L	OL	PTS
	Hurricanes	82	53	22	7	113
	Penguins	82	41	25	16	98
	Flyers	82	43	27	12	98
	Capitals	82	43	30	9	95
	Blue Jackets	82	40	30	12	92
	Islanders	82	43	34	5	91
	Devils	82	42	37	3	87
	Rangers	82	34	39	9	77
CENTRAL		GP	W	L	OL	PTS
	Avalanche	82	55	16	11	121
	Stars	82	50	20	12	112
	Wild	82	46	24	12	104
	Mammoth	82	43	33	6	92
	Blues	82	37	33	12	86
	Predators	82	38	34	10	86
	Jets	82	35	35	12	82
	Blackhawks	82	29	39	14	72
PACIFIC		GP	W	L	OL	PTS
	Golden Knights	82	39	26	17	95
	Oilers	82	41	30	11	93
	Ducks	82	43	33	6	92
	Kings	82	35	27	20	90
	Sharks	82	39	35	8	86
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	Canucks	82	25	49	8	58
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