http://boston.com/dailynews/079/nation/Ohio_teen_ager_dies_after_bein:.shtml
That's the reason they had a net strung up behind the goal at Lynah when I was there. Reportedly, a student was killed at a game in 77 or 78.
Jeff is right, a students was killed in the 1970s. As the Lynah Faithful's only martyr. it would be nice to honor him or her in some way.
Some rinks, esp. college have netting behind the goal. At one point I heard some folks suggesting that there should be netting around the whole ice to keep pucks in. (Maybe Air Force did this or was going to?) But netting obstructs the view, no matter how fine it is. I would hate to have to sit behind the net. And that's why the NHL is unlikely to ever do that - it's hard to charge $200 for seats that have the view obstructed, even by a fine mesh.
What happened is a terrible tragedy. I don't mean to diminish the fact that a young girl lost her life. I just hope we don't see the typical over-reaction to this kind of event.
It's the first fan fatality at an NHL game (according to the NHL anyway), which if you figure the total attendance in NHL history probably makes being an unprotected puck target a safer proposition than leaving your house each morning.
None of which diminishes the tragedy, of course.
The rink at New Roc City (*sigh*) where Iona plays has netting all the way around. Very irritating. But they do have 2 enclosed bars overlooking the rink. Hard to beat that.
Yes, a Cornell Student (Chris Black) was killed by a puck at Lynah in 76/77. I was at the game.
Chris