Elvis Merzļikins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elvis Merzļikins
Merzļikins with HC Lugano in 2014
Born	(1994-04-13) 13 April 1994 (age 31) Riga, Latvia
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
NHL team Former teams	Columbus Blue Jackets HC Lugano
National team	Latvia
NHL Draft	76th overall, 2014 Columbus Blue Jackets
Playing career	2013–present

Elvis Merzļikins (born 13 April 1994) is a professional ice hockey goaltender from Latvia. He plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Before joining the NHL, Merzļikins played several years in Switzerland for HC Lugano. He was recognized as the best goaltender in the National League in both 2016 and 2018, winning the Jacques Plante Trophy. The Blue Jackets picked him in the 2014 NHL Draft. He moved to North America in 2019 and played his first NHL game that same year.

Elvis has also proudly represented his home country, Latvia, in many international hockey tournaments. He played for both the junior and senior national teams.

Playing Ice Hockey

Starting in Switzerland

Elvis Merzļikins joined HC Lugano, a Swiss hockey team, in 2009. This move allowed him to play in the top Swiss league, the National League (NL), as a local player. He made his first NL appearance for HC Lugano during the 2012–13 season.

After the 2013–14 season, Elvis was voted the most improved player and the best young player in the NL. In 2014, the Columbus Blue Jackets from the National Hockey League (NHL) chose him in the third round of their draft.

In the 2015–16 season, Elvis had a fantastic year. He led the league in saves and was second in save percentage. He helped HC Lugano reach the NL final, where they finished second. For his amazing performance, he won the Jacques Plante Trophy, which is given to the league's best goalie.

In 2016, he signed a new three-year contract with Lugano. He also made the all-star team at the 2016 Spengler Cup, a famous international tournament. In the 2017–18 season, he won his second Jacques Plante Trophy. He played his sixth and final season with HC Lugano in 2018–19, recording a career-high five shutouts.

Joining the Columbus Blue Jackets

After his time in Switzerland, Merzļikins moved to North America. He signed a contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 20, 2019. He joined the team for the end of their season and their playoff run.

His first NHL game was on October 5, 2019, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a tough start, he was sent to the Cleveland Monsters, the Blue Jackets' minor league team. He played one game there before returning to Columbus.

Towards the end of 2019, Elvis wasn't getting many chances to play. But then, the main goalie, Joonas Korpisalo, got injured. This gave Elvis a chance to start on December 31, 2019. He earned his first NHL win against the Florida Panthers, stopping 36 shots in a 4–1 victory.

On January 11, 2020, Elvis recorded his first ever NHL shutout against the Vegas Golden Knights. He finished that season with 13 wins and 5 shutouts. The Blue Jackets made the playoffs, and Elvis was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team. This means he was one of the best new players in the league.

In April 2020, the Blue Jackets signed Elvis to a new two-year contract. During the shorter 2020–21 season, he played well, but his team struggled to score goals and missed the playoffs.

In the summer of 2021, a sad event happened. Elvis's friend and fellow Blue Jackets goalie, Matīss Kivlenieks, was at a party with Elvis and his wife. Matīss bravely protected Elvis's wife and unborn son from a dangerous firework. Later that summer, Elvis signed a big five-year contract extension with the Blue Jackets. During the 2021–22 season, he won more games than he lost, but his overall stats were not as strong.

In the 2022–23 season, Elvis missed some games due to injuries. His statistics continued to decline. The Blue Jackets missed the playoffs again. To help him improve, the team hired a new goalie coach, Niklas Bäckström, to work with Elvis.

Playing for Latvia

Elvis Merzļikins has played for Latvia's national ice hockey teams many times. He played in the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 2012 and 2013.

He joined the senior national team for the 2016 IIHF World Championship. He made his debut in the first game against Sweden. He also played in the 2017 and 2018 World Championships. In the 2018 tournament, he had excellent stats, showing he was a top goalie on the international stage. He continues to represent Latvia in major tournaments.

About Elvis's Life

Elvis Merzļikins was born in Riga, Latvia. His father was a big fan of the singer Elvis Presley, which is how Elvis got his unique name!

Elvis can speak several languages, including Latvian, English, Russian, and Italian. He is married and has one son. His son is named after his former teammate and friend, Matīss Kivlenieks. This was a way to honor Matīss, who showed great courage in protecting Elvis's family.

Awards and Honours