The Washington Capitals traded for Pierre-Luc Dubois on Wednesday and a day later, the team’s new first-line center already has his number with the club.
Dubois will be the first player in Capitals history to wear number 80 and for a sweet reason.
Since 2021, Dubois has worn the number to honor his late former teammate with the Columbus Blue Jackets, goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks. Kivlenieks died at age 24 in a tragic fireworks accident after traveling up to Novi, Michigan for the wedding of the daughter of goaltending coach Manny Legace.
While at Legace’s residence, Kivlenieks was struck in the chest by an errant firework during a Fourth of July celebration. Fellow teammate Elvis Merzlikins was at the event as well. He was hugging his pregnant wife, Aleksandra, 20-30 feet behind Kivlenieks when he was struck.
“We are shocked and saddened by the loss of Matiss Kivlenieks, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his mother, Astrida, his family and friends during this devastating time,” Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson said then in a statement. “Kivi was an outstanding young man who greeted every day and everyone with a smile and the impact he had during his four years with our organization will not be forgotten.”
“I think our players who played with him said it the best, that he always came to the rink with a smile on his face and a great positive attitude,” Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said.
Life is so precious and can be so fragile. Hug your loved ones today. RIP Matiss, you will be dearly missed.
— Jarmo Kekalainen (@jkekalainen) July 5, 2021
Dubois posted a picture of Kivlenieks on Instagram with the caption, “RIP ‘Kivvi’. You were a great person and an unbelievable friend to have.”
The centerman attended Kivlenieks’ funeral on July 15, 2021. News surfaced of Dubois’ number change on August 5, a month and a day after Kivlenieks’ death.
“I just wanted to keep his legacy growing,” Dubois said to the Winnipeg Sun on the tribute. “I just wanted to keep the No. 80, because he’s not here to wear it, I want to wear it for him. It’s the number I want for the rest of my career now.”
Dubois was teammates with Kivlenieks on the Blue Jackets for two seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21) before the pivot was traded to the Winnipeg Jets on January 23, 2021 for forwards Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic.
The Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec native began his career wearing number 18 with the Blue Jackets. He changed to number 13 with the Winnipeg Jets. He’s worn 80 since the 2021-22 season with the Jets (2021-23) and the Los Angeles Kings (2023-24).
