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Brett Hull: Girl's Death 'So Sad'

Red Wing Believes Changes Should Be Made

POSTED: Thursday, March 21, 2002
UPDATED: 4:18 pm EST March 21, 2002

Detroit Red Wing Brett Hull will be especially quiet tonight when a moment of silence is observed before the Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets hit the ice.

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The tribute at the Nationwide Arena will be in memory of a 13-year-old fan who was hit and later died from an errant hockey puck last Saturday during a Columbus game.

"I've played hockey my whole life. I've watched my dad play," said Hull. "I've seen people get hit and cut, but I've never heard of anyone dying," Hull said in an interview with Local 4.

Brittanie Cecil died Monday, two days after she was struck by the puck at Nationwide Arena. Tonight, the Red Wings play the Columbus Blue Jackets in only the second game the Ohio team has played since the girl's death, and the first game back at the arena where the tragedy occurred.

On Wednesday, Blue Jackets hockey player Espen Knutsen said what so many were thinking about the death of the young fan who had been hit by a puck.

"It was a terrible thing," Knutsen said. He launched the shot at a game last Saturday. "I think about it all the time. I think about her family, because I have family myself. It was just a horrible accident. I don't feel guilty, but it was me who took the shot. I don't know what I'm feeling right now."

Hull, when asked by Local 4 his thoughts on the tragic situation said that he has strong convictions about changes that should be made.

"I don't think anyone really has paid attention until now, but I think that behind the glass and above the net in the corner where the puck comes around, there's got to be some sort of responsibility as to who sits there. Kids sometimes don't pay attention or people who don't know the game aren't always aware," Hull said during the interview with Local 4.

The right wing wanted to remind people that the game is fun, but "very dangerous. The puck moves at 100 mph. I hope that nothing like that ever happens again. I hope that we can do something," Hull said.

Cecil's death was the first fan fatality at a National Hockey League game.

Earlier Wednesday, Franklin County Coroner Bradley J. Lewis determined that a "vicious cycle" of clotting in the artery and brain swelling led to her death. The rare injury came to an artery, which runs from the spine to the back of her brain, when her head snapped back.

The Blue Jackets announced Wednesday that they would place the girl's initials on their helmets for the rest of the season and will promote a memorial fund.

Brittanie, who would have turned 14 on Wednesday, was sitting about 15 rows above the ice at Nationwide Arena and behind the goal when the puck came flying into the stands.

The puck, shot by Knutsen, caromed off the stick of Calgary defenseman Derek Morris. The puck also hurt two other fans after hitting the teenager, who stood as medics helped her.

The NHL said Wednesday that it will take more steps to warn fans of hazards at games.

"I think it's reasonable to speculate that one of the many things that could happen soon is recommendations that could heighten awareness," NHL spokesman Frank Brown said.

He said that there would be more warnings of the dangers of flying pucks in public address announcements and on scoreboards.

A memorial fund has been set up for the girl:

Brittanie Cecil Fund

c/o Bank One
4056 East Main Street
Hilliard, Ohio, 43026

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