Girl dies after getting hit with hockey puck

Sports Terminal ^ | 3/19/02

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Thirteen-year-old Brittanie Cecil died Monday night from injuries sustained from getting hit in the head with a hockey puck at an NHL game on Saturday night.

The girl was struck in the head during the Columbus Blue Jackets' 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

"Our fans mean the world to us, Doug MacLean, Blue Jackets general manager, said. "This loss has profound effect on the entire Blue Jackets family."

Cecil's death is believed to be the first death of a fan hit by a puck at an NHL game.

Witnesses said the shot by the Blue Jackets' Espen Knutsen flew over the high glass at the west end of the rink, glanced off another spectator and hit the girl on the head.

[Frohickey]

Ban cop-killer hockey pucks!!!! Do it for the chill-ren!!!!!

[goodnesswins]

Boy...what a freak accident.....sometimes we wonder about God's wishes.......and he must have wanted this girl for some special duty......

[Rodney King]

Tragic.

Anyway, what is a blue jacket, adn why would somebody name a team after one? I mean, why not name yourself the mittens, or the filing cabinets?

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I wonder about the casulty list among baseball spectators . . .

[Phantom Lord]

Anyway, what is a blue jacket, adn why would somebody name a team after one? I mean, why not name yourself the mittens, or the filing cabinets?

Any other name would have been construed as offensive to some minority group and they were not smart enough to forsee the marketing opportunities in the name Fighting Whities. Though Hockey is the perfect sport for such a name.

[The G Man]

Get this reaction:

What an idiot

[billbears]

I work with a guy who thinks hockey is the only sport known to man and he said yesterday apparently this year an African-American is going to win the big prize this year in hockey. Said he is leading in goals and assists?

Senseless sport I've always said, but my thoughts and well wishes are to her family

[SpottedBeaver]

Anyway, what is a blue jacket, adn why would somebody name a team after one?

A Blue Jacket is a reference to a civil war Union soldier. However, their mascot is a wasp-like thing.

[oldvike]

No kidding. Even worse than those line drive pulls flying into the stands is when a broken bat (or even an unbroken bat) flies into the crowd. But all fans are well aware of those things before they go to the game so I don't think there should be any extra kind of regulations set up by MLB.

[SpottedBeaver]

One lesson, as a hockey fan, is to always keep your eye on the game. Pucks do frequently end up in the stands. It usually doesn't result in injury, especially if you know where the puck is.

[Phantom Lord]

The Big Prize in Hockey is Lord Stanley's Cup and no one man wins it.

[hellinahandcart]

A bit harsh, to call it "her fault", but true in one way. They do tell everyone several times during the game to keep their eyes on the puck when it's in play, for this very reason. There's also a disclaimer on the ticket. The puck weighs about a pound and can cause serious injury when it comes flying around the glass at high speeds and then OUT into the crowd.

We took advantage of a relative's Ranger season tickets the one year he had them; out of the five games I attended, four featured fans hit in the head by pucks. One was a woman who was knocked out completely and carried out by MSG employees, with blood streaming from her head. But this is the first time I've heard of somebody getting killed by one. What a shame.

[strela]

There's another thread on this topic.

The guy sitting next to me got whacked square in the back by a flying puck at a Stars game last year. He was standing up to go to the concession stand and had his back turned as he was leaving the seating area. It knocked the wind out of him, and he took about 5 minutes before he caught his breath again. I can attest that hockey pucks have some zip behind them coming up off the ice.

(And, I can remember being highly annoyed that I wasn't fast enough to play the carom off my neighbor's back and get the puck. A kid beat me to it).

[Brewer]

Never sit just above the glass and keep your eye on the puck.

[billbears]

Jarome Iginla? Going to win the Hart Trophy for league MVP, the Art Ross trophy for scoring, and the Maurice Richard trophy for goals scored. I don't know, it's just what my coworker told me. I don't watch it

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

How would you feel about our tax financed special interest groups focusing on this?

[tracer]

Where the puck what is??

[meandog]

Here-e-e-r's Johnnie....

"The jacket was blue, so I must sue!"

[oldvike]

I'd be pissed, but I expect that it will happen sooner or later.

[1Old Pro]

A freakish tragedy. I just hope the NHL doesn't make everyone "rent" a helmet for $5/game.

[NittanyLion]

The Big Prize in Hockey is Lord Stanley's Cup and no one man wins it.

True. So let's think about teams with a black player. Only Brashear comes to my mind. Go Flyers!

[Intimidator]

Tragic, that sucks.

[Phantom Lord]

There are a few black players. I cant think of their names at this time. Boston has one. Not sure if Grant Fuhr is still with St. Louis.

Ever see The Nat X Show, the old SNL skit with Chris Rock? He did a Top 5 list. Why only 5? Because The Man wouldnt give him 10. Well, he did the top 5 reason black men dont play hockey. Was really funny. A couple were "Afraid to get gold tooth knocked out" and "Afraid of white men with sticks." And #1 was was "Don't feel need to dominate yet another sport."

[hellinahandcart]

He meant Jarome Iginla from the Calgary Flames.

[sparkomatic]

Or the casualty list among pga galleries?

[LoneGOPinCT]

How terrible. Our thoughts and prayers go out to that poor girl's family.

I've seen a couple of people hit by pucks in the past, but luckily it was in the shoulder or leg. Expect full board-to-ceiling installation of plexiglass to be installed in the not-too-distant future.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

"A freakish tragedy."

How many games have been attended by how many fans?

[NittanyLion]

He meant Jarome Iginla from the Calgary Flames.

Maybe you two didn't hear me the first time - ONLY Brashear comes to mind as someone who will be hoisting the Cup this year. ;-)

Signed,
NittanyLion, of a town 20 miles outside Philadelphia

[GoredInMich]

During the 2000 season, at the Tiger's new ballpark, a kid got hit in the head by a line drive foul off the bat of Dean Palmer. The kid didn't die, but he was pretty screwed up for awhile. The parents tried to sue the club for whatever they could think of, but there is a disclaimer on the back of the ticket that states you watch at your own risk, etc.

Sad stories

[BluH2o]

I just hope the NHL doesn't make everyone "rent" a helmet for $5/game ...

Reliable sources inform me Hildabeast is now flying (at warp speed) back to Washington, on her broom, to enact legislation along this line immediately.

[1Old Pro]

How many games have been attended by how many fans?

Probably have better odds winning a lottery

[ken5050]

I remember well going to Ranger games back before everyone, players and goalies, wore masks.....seeing Bobby Orr going to his knees to block a shot with his body..it seems unthinkable today.....and the classic moment when Bobby Hull ( perhaps the hardest shot ever in hockey ) fired point blank at Eddie Giacomin...Fast eddie went dwn likwe he was poleaxed..everyone thought he was dead..he didn't move for 10 minutes.....

[Phantom Lord]

Only Brasher? Is he going to monopolize The Cup when they "Skate The Cup" and not allow his teammates to partake?

And the only cup he will be hoisting is his beer when he is crying in it. GO HASEK!

[nascarnation]

Someone call Ralph Nader & Joan Claybrook now! Helmets for all spectators starting tonight! Or maybe an airbag in the back of everyone's seat. Let's have the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Congressional hearings IMMEDIATELY!!

[Mason]

A Blue Jacket is a reference to a civil war Union soldier. However, their mascot is a wasp-like thing

My understanding is that "Blue Jacket" was the nickname of a central Ohio indian chief or figure. I don't know if it was after the Civil War, when Ohio was well settled, but I think it was.

[SpottedBeaver]

You missed a letter. =.O

[SpottedBeaver]

Found this at the Columbus Blue Jacket's Website:

History Behind the Name: The Blue Jackets name pays homage to Ohio's contributions to American history and the great pride and patriotism exhibited by its citizens, especially during the Civil War as both the state of Ohio and the city of Columbus were significantly influential on the Union Army. Ohio contributed more of its population to the Union Army than any other state, while many of the uniforms worn by the Union soldiers were manufactured in Columbus.

[Mark17]

It usually doesn't result in injury, especially if you know where the puck is.

I got hit with a puck, not during a game, but during warm up, on March 3rd, 1999. During the game, I would have seen it coming. This time, I did not. Fortunately for me, all it did was knock out 6 teeth, but I lived through it. Now, I have a ton of dental implants in my jaw. My hockey playing days ended that day.

[d14truth]

'Floor to ceiling plexiglass.'(?)

My prayers for the family and for the organizations and the player(s) whom the 'Evil One' will try to mentally persecute for this death which God will use for ultimate 'good'.

What has happened cannot be undone. Only 'the peace that passeth all understanding' can provide the eternal comfort needed to move past the 'harshness' of life. All 'human' avenues lead to loss of liberty, freedom, and love, IMHO.

[xp38]

A few years ago a spectator died at the Indy 500 when a tire, probably the whole wheel flew off a car and struck him. During the mid 1950s at the Le Mans 24 hour race a Mercedes racing car ran into the crowd and killed around 80 spectators. Mercedes withdrew factory support for motor racing for decades as a result. I must admit this is the first time I recall a death like this at an NHL game. Prayers to the family and for the soul of the girl in this tragedy.

[SpottedBeaver]

OOOOoooo OUCH! Sorry to hear that. Hockey is a dangerous sport. I play every now and then. I've been hit with many shots. Just not in the teeth. I wear a helmet with a full face cage on the front. They don't pay me enough to take a puck in the face.

In other words, I don't get paid to play hockey.

[HockeyPop]

Last I heard Peter Worrel leads the league in penalty minuts while Brashears is tenth on the list.

Looks like Pavel Bure was just traded to the Rangers.

[Basil Duke]

An L.A. Dodger batter lined a foul into the stands in the early '70s and fatally injured a toddler. The player's name was Vic D --- something. Later, with Manny Mota, formed an excellent pinch hit unit for the Dodgers.

[HockeyPop]

We didn't have bird cages when I was a kid, but who wore helmets back then anyway? The average slap shot travels between 90-100mph, is heavier and denser than a baseball, and are usually kept in a freezer until needed by the referees. They are literally rock hard missliles.

[Clemenza]

Very sad. Would have been funny if headline read: "Don Rickles dies after getting hit with hockey puck"

[Dr.Deth]

So let's think about teams with a black player.

Quick rundown off the top of my head (no pun intended)...

Carolina Panthers: Kevin Weekes
St. Louis Blues: Fred Braithewaite
Philadelphia Flyers: Donald Brashear
New York Rangers: Sandy McCarthy (mulatto)
Columbus Blue Jackets: Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre
Edmonton Oilers: Anson Carter, Georges Laraque, Mike Grier (cornering the market)
Florida Panthers: Peter Worrell (goon)
And of course Jarome Iginla

[Clemenza]

Looks like Pavel Bure was just traded to the Rangers.

Of course 95% of South Florida residents say: "Pavel who?"

THe funny thing is, 105.9FM is still airing an ad for the Panthers featuring Pavel Bure as the main attraction. Does this constitute false advertising?