The sports world was left in shock after a young girl was tragically killed by a flying puck during an ice hockey match.
Brittanie Cecil, aged 13, was struck at a game in Ohio, United States, between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Calgary Flames over two decades ago – a case that continues to reverberate within the sport today.
Brittanie sustained injuries early in the match when a slapshot deflected puck flew over the end glass and into the stands, hitting her head at the Nationwide Arena.
Despite suffering a skull fracture, the teenager managed to walk to a first-aid station and was subsequently transported to Columbus Children's Hospital by ambulance. There, she suffered a seizure and experienced brain clotting and swelling.
Tragically, just two days later and only 48 hours shy of her 14th birthday, Brittanie lost consciousness and passed away.
Her parents received a $1.2 million settlement from the NHL and other groups, as revealed by a copy of the agreement made public under an appeals court order, reports the Mirror US.
Brittanie's mother, Jody Naudascher, was awarded $705,000, while her father, David Cecil, received $470,000. They were also given $13,000 towards funeral expenses.
Espen Knutsen, the Blue Jackets player whose shot resulted in the fatal incident, expressed his deep remorse. In a meeting with Brittanie's mother following the tragic event, he said: "I can't imagine what it was like for you, for your family. It was a terrible accident that I couldn't believe."
Brittanie's mother reportedly told him, per the Columbus Dispatch: "I don't hold you responsible, I never did. It was an accident and you should never have blamed yourself for anything."
Knutsen also said: "It really shook me, my teammates and everyone around the team more than people could ever know."
Brittanie's heartbreaking death sparked a major transformation in the sport – leading to the compulsory introduction of protective netting.
The NHL's board of governors mandated the nets to be suspended from the ceiling across the end zones, extending from the corners of the rink.
Gary Bettman, commissioner at the time, said these safety measures would have stopped the puck that struck Brittanie from reaching the spectators.
Whilst a league investigation determined the venues to be secure, Bettman said the installation of nets remained "the right thing to do after what has happened".
Bettman clarified: "There were measures we could take that would reduce the incidence of pucks entering the stands without it interfering with the game, or the fans' enjoyment of the game, and we're doing that."
At the time of the decision, Blue Jackets president Doug MacLean said: "Obviously, the tragic death has affected us tremendously, and we wholeheartedly support the league's mandate to go with the netting. We think it's a positive step."
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