Chicago Fan Hit by Puck Files Lawsuit

A fan who had emergency brain surgery in January after being hit by a hockey puck sued the Chicago Blackhawks, the NHL and the United Center on Wednesday.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of season-ticket holders Elizabeth and Steven Hahn of LaGrange Park, Ill., alleges team, league and arena officials knew for years that flying pucks were dangerous but did not increase safety measures.

Officials from the Blackhawks did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment. The NHL declined to comment.

Last month, a 13-year-old fan attending an NHL game in Columbus, Ohio, was killed after a deflected shot struck her. It was the first such fatality in league history.

Elizabeth Hahn was hit by the puck while picking up a napkin Jan. 6 at a game between the Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins. She was diagnosed with a blood clot on her brain and a severed right ear lobe, according to the lawsuit.

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Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, strongly criticized the officiating in his team’s playoff series with the Detroit Red Wings.

With the Canucks traveling back to Detroit for Game 5 tonight with the series tied, 2-2, Burke said Wednesday his club is not getting a fair shake.

“We pay the same dues to the National Hockey League that Detroit pays and even though we’re just a little Canadian team, we deserve a level playing field,” Burke said. “We haven’t gotten one yet and we’re sick of it.”

After four games, the Red Wings, who finished first overall in the NHL with 116 points, had a 17-16 advantage in power plays over the eighth-place Canucks. That included a 6-4 advantage for Vancouver in Game 4.

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Jeff Taffe, who had two game-winning goals during Minnesota’s run to the NCAA hockey championship, signed a three-year contract with the Phoenix Coyotes.