Blues install protective nets

ST. LOUIS -- Blues fans ought to be safer while they watch hockey behind newly installed netting designed to prevent pucks from leaving the ice.

The new nets were installed Wednesday. The work follows last season's tragic accident in Columbus, Ohio, where Brittanie Cecil, 13, was killed by a puck deflected into the stands. The NHL subsequently mandated that all of its rinks put up netting behind the goals to prevent pucks from flying into the stands.

Though the league didn't set a deadline for the installation of the netting, the Blues, like many teams, worked to get the netting up before the season began. The Blues open their home exhibition season tonight against Nashville.

"Been a lot of unfortunate accidents that happened through the years," Blues defenseman Al MacInnis said. "Sad to see a young girl lose her life from something that could have been prevented. Obviously when we look back, the nets could have been up years ago."

The nets should remove the risk of fans being hit by the fastest pucks -- the ones headed toward the goals -- while keeping obstructions to a minimum. Blues officials figure that after a few games, fans won't notice the nets anymore.

"I've seen hockey through nets in a lot of rinks," said Blues president Mark Sauer. "I compare it to baseball backstop netting."

The netting, which hangs down from the ceiling and is attached to the top of the boards, begins where the boards begin to curve near the goal line.