Death of Brittanie Cecil

Who is Death of Brittanie Cecil?

Brittanie Nichole Cecil was a hockey fan who died from injuries suffered when a puck was deflected into the stands and struck her in the left temple at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on March 16, 2002. It was the first and currently only fan fatality in the NHL's 85-year history.

Because of Brittanie's death, the league implemented mandatory netting at either end of the rink in every stadium at the beginning of the next NHL season in 2002–03 to protect spectators from errant pucks.

In April 2004, a little over two years after Brittanie's death, her parents received $1.2 million in a settlement with the NHL and other groups.