| RotoGuru Hockey Forum View the Forum Registry | Self-edit this thread |
|
| 0 |
Subject: 13-year old girl dies from puck injury Posted by: KrazyKoalaBears - Donor [266182910] Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 12:52 ESPN.com Story COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A teenage girl hit in the head by a puck at an NHL game has died, hospital officials said Tuesday. Brittanie Cecil, 13, died Monday night, Children's Hospital said. The girl was struck by a shot early in the Columbus Blue Jackets' 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Saturday night. "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." It 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. Pretty crazy and sad. | |||||||
| 1 | The Left Wings ID: 760719 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 13:04 |
Tough luck. Back in the 50s, goalies did not wear masks and they stop shots directly by their faces. Now, somebody would get killed by a ricochet, which was not even a direct hit since it bounced off somebody. Go figure. I feel bad for the dad. I wonder how he is gonna get blamed for that for the rest of his life. And is Espen Knutsen gonna be charged with unintentional murder? I expect some paranoid people would start a campaign in order to raise some sort of net around the rink to protect the spectators. | ||||||
| 2 | Sludge Sustainer ID: 54131712 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 13:10 |
I wonder how many times it's happened before in any sport. My wife and I were at an Astros game a few years back in the Astrodome when Ricky Guttierez let his bat fly out of his hands (a regular occurance... we used to cringe every time he came up to bat) and it hit a little kid. Knocked him cold. The medical staff took the kid out through the field gates behind home plate. I still remember his mom jumping down onto the field to run after them. The kid didn't die, obviously, or we would have surely heard about it the next day, but he certainly wasn't "okay". | ||||||
| 3 | Perm Dude Leader ID: 46132213 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 13:13 |
That's pretty awful to hear. Legally there's a presumption of risk for spectators at all sporting events, so there's little reason to think there will be any legal fallout. But it's still pretty awful to hear. pd | ||||||
| 4 | Toral Sustainer ID: 2111201313 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 13:14 |
It's happened at least three times before in hockey, but never the NHL. Nets like those Left Wings mentioned are in place in some junior arenas and a commentator on THE FAN 590 has predicted that the NHL will have to look closely at them. Toral | ||||||
| 5 | The Left Wings ID: 760719 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 13:25 |
Here we go already. It's the "politically correct" thing to say for a radio station like Fan 590. I wouldn't want nettings around the place. If a puck fly towards me, I would catch it like people do with homeruns. Remember, those pucks don't fly anywhere nearly as fast as a normal slap shot. | ||||||
| 6 | Perm Dude Leader ID: 46132213 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 13:30 |
Er, Left Wings, how do you know that the shot in question was not "anywhere nearly as fast as a normal slap shot?" It's clear you have no compassion for the girl who got killed ("Tough luck") but it seems like you're making up facts here whole cloth. pd | ||||||
| 7 | KrazyKoalaBears Donor ID: 266182910 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 13:46 |
It's pretty obvious that there is some sort of relationship between the height of protection around the rink and the number of injuries/deaths. From the article: Although rare, spectators have been killed and seriously injured at hockey games, particularly in the low minor leagues and the amateur ranks where the glass is not as high around the rink. The NHL will likely visit this topic. | ||||||
| 8 | The Left Wings ID: 760719 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 13:49 |
Dude, I can follow a puck deflected off the goaltender's stick, but a slap shot is pretty hard to follow on TV. Any puck that is deflected flies slower. That's basic physics. And yes, I'm more concerned with the implication of her death to the game. To me, these types of accidents happen and are statistically insignificant. I mean, I know I'll die, you'll die and everybody else will die sooner or later. I don't care how I die, but I just hope it's one that I don't feel pain. I would imagine that the little girl did not feel too much pain cuz she passed out right away. I think that's a better death than a slow, torturous death after lying on a hospital bed for months (or even years). The way I see it, she's actually lucky. Of course, that's not the same for her parents and her friends, but at least the victim herself did not suffer for too long. I'm actually envious. You guys look at the parents who are crying, but I'm looking at the victim. Different points of view, I guess. Afterall, the victim is the main character in this story, not the parents. | ||||||
| 9 | KrazyKoalaBears Donor ID: 266182910 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 14:00 | And it's definitely not sad that had nets been in place, the death wouldn't have happened, right? If there were nets in place, she could have died at a future date (who knows how long in the future) and it could have been just as quick. Who's to say it wouldn't have been just as quick and/or painless? | ||||||
| 10 | Perm Dude Leader ID: 46132213 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 14:01 |
Lucky because she died quickly? Is that the choice we're looking at here? I never said anything about the parents, and your examination of the victim (who would have turned 14 tomorrow) seems to consist of how much better you would have done if you were there. I don't see anywhere in the article where it specified whether the shot was a regular shot, a slap shot, or not. And you clearly are a better man than the 13-year-old who was killed ("I can catch it," indeed), do you think you'd do so well on a shot deflected on someone else? How about if your head was turned (we don't know where it hit)? I agree that the incident is rare, and should not be the cause of over-reaction. I'd put your responses in the over-reaction category however. pd | ||||||
| 11 | Dec ID: 321142810 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 15:14 |
It's a really sad story and it's making us reminding that you better beware of the action when you're on certain seat during a hockey or a baseball game. I remember the only time a ball was hit in my direction during a baseball game (not even a line drive) and my last second reflex was "sh$t it could hurt my hand" so I remove it and let the ball fall at my feel where I had the easy pick-up. Not my proudest macho moment but on my defense nobody else was in danger (and few saw me) cause it was at Olympic Stadium. Since then, I'm scary to think what will I do if the same situation occurs while my son is beside me. | ||||||
| 12 | Puckprophet ID: 27948520 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 15:28 | it's unfortunate and tragic; but it was a fluke shot... | ||||||
| 13 | Hockey ljusa sidan ID: 590519 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 15:32 | I wonder how Espen Knutsen is feeling right now... | ||||||
| 14 | KrazyKoalaBears Donor ID: 266182910 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 15:56 | Probably about 100 times worse than Marian Hossa felt after Brian Berard lost sight in his right eye. | ||||||
| 15 | JayTDawg ID: 4412843 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 16:06 |
I guess the issue is that people have to pay close attention to the play on the ice -- arenas issue warnings during each game about how pucks can enter the stands any time during play and you have to be aware of that. There are way too many fans at games who rarely pay attention to the on-ice action... we dont know the entire situation here so its hard to make judgment calls. I dont think Left Wings was showing a lack of compassion -- this really was tough luck (considering its the first time its happened in the NHL). I know going to WHL games there are always people getting picked off; sometimes small children, and the only answer is to keep your eye on the play. I cant imagine being very seriously injured by the puck if I saw the play take place (and, as TLW said, the puck will not be moving at top speed... but generally pretty damn fast) | ||||||
| 16 | Greenbelt ID: 44232199 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 16:23 |
This is so sad, but also part of the deal when you go watch a game up close ( or closer than the suites! ;-} ). Figure this, a puck is hard rubber just like a bowling ball. The human skull is made up of dozens of inter-conecting bones. A puck traveling at any kind of velocity, and striking any "wrong" part of the skull---especially if the poor fan wasn't paying attention to the action---is gonna be a nasty thing! Everytime I go to Camden Yards for an O's game, there are these "Watch for batted balls" signs all over the park. I've seen NASTY injuries incured by bats either flying out of hitters hands, or parts of bats going into the seats ( splinters included! ). And who can forget ol' "Joey" Belle throwing balls AT the fans? Then there's the auto-racing circuit, with cars barreling into the stands and wheels and other airborne parts nailing fans in thier seats... I guess the thing is, if ya want to go see these events, --->Stay in touch with what's going on! | ||||||
| 17 | Oh Canada ID: 17018213 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 16:33 | Lucky? How can you say that dude, that's pretty cold ...lucky would be getting to see her 16th birthday ...luck would be living a long wonderful life to the age of 90 ...lucky would be falling in love for the first time ...experiencing life to it's fullest ...not being accidentally killed by a hockey puck causing her family and friends horrible grief and suffering ... missing out on so many beautiful things this life has to offer ...but again, I guess it's subject to everyone's opinion ...although I sincerely believe everything happens for a reason it's tough to fathom what kind of reason the universe had for this one. Poor girl. | ||||||
| 18 | j o s h ID: 292461914 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 18:32 | wow- what a cold reaction over such a tragic event! | ||||||
| 19 | Rogue's Strikers ID: 542431813 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 19:26 | Its not the 1st time TLW has had this 'cold' kind of reaction. I recall his sentiments on the 9/11 tradegy too. Dude, you really need to learn some compassion. | ||||||
| 20 | Perm Dude Leader ID: 6235820 Tue, Mar 19, 2002, 22:15 |
Just saw the sports tonight, they had a piece on it. The shot was a slap shot that went off a defenseman, the top of the glass, then nailed the girl in the temple. They had this chilling video of her standing up with someone (her dad?) holding a jacket to her head. Pretty shocking to see--she was standing around with a mortal injury. pd | ||||||
| 21 | Greenbelt ID: 50220200 Wed, Mar 20, 2002, 00:28 |
PD; Do you remember an American Race car driver named Mark Donahue? Was driving a F1 car around some euro-circuit when a tree branch hit his helmet. He completed the lap, got out and walked around 'till he was taken to a hospital for "observation." Hours later, he died on the table of a brain clot! Scary man, scary! | ||||||
| 22 | j o s h ID: 292461914 Wed, Mar 20, 2002, 01:14 | Seems like an mri would have picked up any life threatening injury. (I saw that video too.) I hate to even think that stuff like that (mri) wouldn't have been done. | ||||||
| 23 | Greenbelt ID: 43222209 Wed, Mar 20, 2002, 09:40 | Rest asured that if anything coulda been done, it most likely was. I know that @ MCI ( as reported in today's paper ), there are at least 2 warnings per period about watching out for flying pucks posted on the jumbo-tron in all 4 directions, everytime a puck goes into the stands an usher checks on everybody, and there are paramedics and an ambu-van standing by at the ready ( and the closest hospital---Georgetown---is just a few minutes away ). | ||||||
| 24 | Hockey ljusa sidan ID: 590519 Wed, Mar 20, 2002, 14:50 |
"The 13-year-old girl hit by a puck at an NHL game died from a rare injury to an artery that was damaged when her head snapped back, a coroner said Wednesday." "The puck struck her in the forehead, causing a skull fracture and some bruising of the brain in the area," Lewis said. "But that wasn't what led to her death. It was the snapping back of the head and the damage to that artery." "...a fellow pathologist had not encountered a similar injury and death in more than 25 years as a doctor." | ||||||
| 25 | Greenbelt ID: 43222209 Wed, Mar 20, 2002, 16:01 |
HOLY COW!! Now that is wild! Almost like a whiplash ( which I've had ). | ||||||
| 26 | Burd ID: 29141112 Wed, Mar 20, 2002, 17:23 | Wow, TLW is a real compassionate individual. I hope you're not around when somebody needs CPR. | ||||||
| 27 | The Grim Reaper ID: 47132620 Wed, Mar 20, 2002, 18:31 |
I never saw the incident. I read the story. This is a horrible accident and even if you are paying close attention to the game it could still happen. You don't believe me well you better hope you are not carrying a drink or bag of chips when a hard frozen puck comes flying. You want another sport try sitting down the 3rd base line at a baseball game & having to sneeze a few times. Even if you try to catch the baseball or hockey puck it can kill you and 13 year old girls generally can't stop a puck or a baseball with their bare hands as many adults can not. Anyway you look at it her family has to live with this grief and so do her friends. No one intended for her to die. She was just enjoying the game until the puck hit her. Things like this can happen at any given moment at a baseball or hockey game. It's just unfortunate the puck did not miss her all together or hit her in the arm or leg. I'm not saying put up a brick wall over the glass or netting but let's not make light of it & say who cares. Left Wings, with all due respect to you I guess you don't have any kids or any nephews or nieces. Lucky...HA!! Give me a break man. Luck would have been if she was 92 years old & suffering from an incurable disease and had 4 months to live, not to get killed at 13 years old. And yea even Dr. Death aka the Grim Reaper does feel bad for her parents. Ask someone you know how they would feel if their kid died before them especially if the kid was 13 years old and see what type of answer you get. An you know what Left Wings yea I completely agree with you about the goalies in the 1950's and goalies that play on an amateur level without masks or pads. Many of your threads and comments have been excellent in the past. But statistically insignifigant. Come on man have a little bit of compassion for her & her parents!! | ||||||
| 28 | JayTDawg ID: 4412843 Wed, Mar 20, 2002, 18:47 |
I believe TLW did show some compassion: "I feel bad for the dad." Also his point was that her death was at least painless (although, in light of recent details, i.e. her standing up afterwards, this may not have been the case) so I'd have to think that is a compassionate point of view. As he said, its just a different way of looking at the situation. Its hard to grasp though -- I couldnt imagine taking my son/daughter to a game and such an incident occuring. Someone else brought up the spectator deaths occuring in other sports, which is unreal if you think about having to put your life on the line while watching a sport! Senseless deaths are occuring everyday -- this one just hits close to home with hockey fans. *no pun intended | ||||||
| 29 | The Grim Reaper ID: 47132620 Wed, Mar 20, 2002, 22:04 |
Jay Dawg, You brought up some excellent points. Yes The Left Wings did bring up some compassion when he said he feels bad for the parents & family. Like I said I respect his opinions and I agree with him on many things. I also agree with him that in today's world you can't go around charging Espen Knutsen with unintentional murder. Hell if anyone charges Knutsen with anything they are nuts. It was an accident plain & simple. No one intended for her to die and you can't go around putting a net up all over the ice rink. But watch in a few years we will have nets up just like sitting behind home plate in baseball. Even football nets behind the goal post are meant to slow or trap the ball after an extra point. Most hockey fans including myself will tell you no nets and most of us hate political correctness. It is a shame she died but like you said when you watch a game especially in areas close to the action the risk is high. Even a deflected slap shot or foul ball at 30-40 MPH is enough to kill some one. It's a fact of life and we should not penalize fans for her death. I agree with both of you on that. But TLW calling her death insignifant and saying he's actually envious. Actually envious. Come on... GET FREAKIN' REAL!! That's what bothered TGR. Oh well, time to go relax and play some good old fashioned hard core heavy metal. Tonight's special is Metallica "Master Of Puppets" Tommorrow's special is Motley Crue "Live Entertainment or Death". As Jim Rome would say I'm out!! | ||||||
| 30 | Macca ID: 411551115 Wed, Mar 20, 2002, 22:18 | not sure if this was already mentioned, but in st. john's they had a net put up to protect the fans, but the fans said they couldn't see the game as well,plus catching a puck is like catching a baseball at a game....... guess it just a freak occurance, and hopefully the last of its kind. | ||||||
| ||||||||
Post a reply to this message: (But first, how about checking out this sponsor?) | ||||||||
