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CNN Live Today

Interview with Michael Arace

Aired March 20, 2002 - 14:11   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There is a small town in Ohio now in mourning now after a freak accident at a Columbus hockey game that resulted in the death of a 13-year-old girl. Brittanie Cecil died Monday night, two days after being hit in the head by a hockey puck. A coroner says she died from an injury to an artery in the back of her head.

Let's talk with Michael Arace who covers the Blue Jackets for the Columbus dispatch at the game on Saturday. Michael, good afternoon to you. I wish we could talk under other circumstances. We mentioned an absolutely freak situation here. You were there. Many times pucks go into the crowd. Did you notice anything unusual about this one?

MICHAEL ARACE, "COLUMBUS DISPATCH": Well, the only unusual thing we thought was that it struck a small child that was in the same vicinity. That's why my colleague Aaron Portsland (ph) and I immediately grabbed our binoculars and looked to check the situation out. And the rest of the crowd did the same as happens in these circumstances when you get a feeling that this is a little more than just a puck going into the stands.

When she got up there was a big sigh of relief in the crowd and when she walked out there was applause. So everyone assumed that she was OK, and the game resumed.

HEMMER: Give us an idea what fans are told. We know there's a warning placed on tickets. We know sometimes there are signs posted at different NHL arenas. What do you see as fan at a hockey game about warnings about danger?

ARACE: The NHL is very consistent about its warnings. It's on the tickets, it's also piped the over the PA just prior to the game. When most of the people are in the seats and the arena is at its quietest and it's also put on message board simultaneously.

HEMMER: When you heard the news, what went through your mind?

ARACE: I was stunned. At first there were rumors that -- that a child had been hit and that he was in critical condition, and -- that didn't jibe with what I saw and I thought it was some other incident...

HEMMER: Really? ARACE: Yeah, it turned out to be this incident, which -- which shocked everyone. Because, like I say, when you see someone get up and walk out of the arena you assume that -- that they are going to be OK.

HEMMER: How is the town reacting, Michael?

ARACE: It's -- it's a profound tragedy. Columbus is growing very rapidly. It has been for the better part of 10 years. But there's still a smaller town Midwest feel to the place that hasn't left it. And you know, as much as this has become a national story for so many reasons it's -- it's a very deep local story here.

People are feeling this.

HEMMER: I am certain. We should make a note that this is the first time this has ever happened in the National Hockey League. But given that, you cover this sport, is there ever consideration given to higher plastic around the rink? Is there any consideration given to nets or something like this? I've heard this talked about on sports radio. Is it a possibility at all at any stage in the league?

ARACE: There is only one place in the league where there's netting and that's America West Arena in Phoenix. And that's because the building wasn't constructed for hockey. And they're actually building a new one. So the seats kind of overhang there. And so they have netting to protect fans that actually kind of jut out over the edge of the ice.

But the league has obviously not been compelled to do much to change what is existing. I know glass has gotten higher over the years and given the fact that there's -- this -- this is almost like a bolt of lightning that these kind of considerations haven't been weighed too heavily.

HEMMER: Bolt of lightning indeed. Michael Arace, "Columbus Dispatch" covers the hockey team there in Columbus. Thank you, Michael.

ARACE: My pleasure.

HEMMER: Appreciate you sharing thoughts with us today.

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