Girl dies after being hit by puck

From http://www.msnbc.com/news/726391.asp?cp1=1

13 year old Brittanie Cecil died Monday night after being hit in the head by a puck during a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets' and the Calgary Flames.

Now, I've always wondered about whether or not fans had ever been killed at games. The thought I always had was of someone not paying great attention at a baseball game and getting clipped in the head with a line drive to left field.

It raises the question - should the glass at hockey games be higher? Is this an acceptable loss to the hockey community or the hockey franchises, so that they can feel okay about keeping the glass at its current height?

Regardless, it's sad that she didn't make it. I hope her family has the strength to make it through.

[verbatim]

I think it should be another foot higher, no more, no less. But some glass (or plexiglass or whatever) is really weak. One of my friends (hes 16) recently broke a piece of the stuff during a game. I mean, nobody is losing anything if the glass is higher. The puck will go out if its high enough anyways, so if you are intending to put it out of bounds, youre gonna do it.

It should at least be stronger and taller directly behind the goal and maybe around the curves in the board.

It was believed to be the first death of a fan hit by a puck at an NHL game.

Its terrible it even happened to one person.

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.

Sounds a bit more plausible, but still shocking. And 3 of the 4 in the article were 13 and under. Only one 21year old.