SB Nation Boston - Zdeno Chara Avoids NHL Discipline After Max Pacioretty Hithttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2011-03-11T13:08:38-05:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18040952011-03-11T13:08:38-05:002011-03-11T13:08:38-05:00Mac Pacioretty Doesn't Want Zdeno Chara To Face Prosecution
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<p>In light of Thursday's news that the <a href="http://boston.sbnation.com/boston-bruins/2011/3/10/2042384/zdeno-charas-boston-bruins-montreal-police-max-pacioretty" target="_blank">Montreal police opened up an investigation</a> of Zdeno Chara after his hit on Max Pacioretty that left the Canadiens forward with a concussion and fractured vertebrae, Pacioretty issued a statement. Despite his public anger toward Chara -- he feels the hit was intentional --<a href="http://www.csnne.com/03/11/11/Pacioretty-Dont-criminally-prosecute-Cha/landing_bruins.html?blockID=438141&feedID=3944" target="_blank"> Pacioretty doesn't want Montreal police to prosecute the Bruins defenseman</a>.</p>
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<p>"I sincerely appreciate all of the support that I have received since my injury. I was disappointed that the NHL did not suspend Zdeno Chara.</p>
<p>"However, I have no desire for him to be prosecuted legally. I feel that the incident, as ugly as it was, was part of a hockey game.</p>
<p>"I understand that this is not my decision. I have respect and admiration for the authorities in Quebec. I simply wanted to make my opinion clear."</p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-bruins/2011/3/11/2044444/mac-pacioretty-zdeno-chara-montreal-policeRyan Hudson2011-03-10T13:07:50-05:002011-03-10T13:07:50-05:00Montreal Police Open Up Investigation Of Zdeno Chara's Hit On Max Pacioretty
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<p>Acting on an official request by the Quebec director of criminal and penal prosecutions, the Montreal police have opened up an investigation of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Boston Bruins</a>’ defenseman <span>Zdeno Chara</span>’s hit on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/">Montreal Canadiens</a> forward <span>Max Pacioretty</span>.</p>
<p><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6201094&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines" target="new"><span class="caps">ESPN</span> reports</a> that the director, Louis Dionne, put forth the request after watching footage of the hit. Dionne’s spokesperson told <span class="caps">ESPN</span>:</p>
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<p>“The police investigation will be held. Like all police investigations, evidence will be gathered and an investigation report will be submitted [The <span class="caps">DCPP</span>] will then evaluate to see whether there’s grounds for prosecution.”</p>
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<p><em>SBNation</em> hockey writer Travis Hughes <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2011/3/10/2042219/zdeno-chara-hit-max-pacioretty-police-investigation-montreal" target="new">lists the various times police officials have intervened in in-game hits and injuries before</a>, but says the opening of a criminal investigation in a matter where intent is denied and the <span class="caps">NHL</span> took no sanctioning action post-game is “unprecedented:”</p>
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<p>“The difference between all of these incidents and the Chara hit on Pacioretty is clearly the intent. Chara denies any intent, the <span class="caps">NHL</span> clear didn’t think there was intent to injure and truthfully, we have no idea what the intent was on the play.”</p>
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<p>When Montreal Police aren’t busy investigating Chara, they will be busy convincing locals that emergency numbers should be used for actual emergencies. <em>Stanley Cup of Chowder</em> reports that Montreal’s 911 call centers were <a href="http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2011/3/9/2041027/habs-fan-tie-up-police-emergency-line-with-calls-for-charas-arrest" target="new">flooded with calls</a> from concerned hockey fans looking to report the hit and complain of the lack of suspension on Tuesday and Wednesday. <a href="http://news.ca.msn.com/canada/cp-article.aspx?cp-documentid=27945592" target="new"><em>The Canadian Press</em> reports</a> that the calls may have been triggered by a local sports radio station.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-bruins/2011/3/10/2042384/zdeno-charas-boston-bruins-montreal-police-max-paciorettysportsgirlkat2011-03-10T06:09:09-05:002011-03-10T06:09:09-05:00Pacioretty From Hospital: "I Felt Chara Did Mean To Do It."
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<p>Injured <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/">Montreal Canadiens</a> right winger <span>Max Pacioretty</span> <a href="http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=357316" target="new">told Canadian sports network <span class="caps">TSN</span> late Wednesday night</a> that he thought <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Boston Bruins</a> defenseman <span>Zdeno Chara</span>’s devestating hit on him Tuesday night was purposeful.</p>
<p>Speaking to the network from his hospital room, Pacioretty questioned the NHL’s lack of sanction on Chara, especially given the severity of his injuries (fractured vertebrae and concussion):</p>
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<p>“I am upset and disgusted that the league didn’t think enough of (the hit) to suspend him…I’m not mad for myself, I’m mad because if other players see a hit like that and think it’s okay, they won’t be suspended, then other players will get hurt like I got hurt.”</p>
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<p>While Chara denies that he knew he was hitting Pacioretty at the “turnbuckle” part of the boards and that he had any intent to injure, Pacioretty disagrees:</p>
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<p>“I heard (Chara) said he didn’t mean to do it. I felt he did mean to do it. I would feel better if he said he made a mistake and that he was sorry for doing that, I could forgive that, but I guess he’s talking about how I jumped up or something…I believe he was trying to guide my head into the turnbuckle. We all know where the turnbuckle is.”</p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-bruins/2011/3/10/2041656/zdeno-chara-boston-bruins-max-pacioretty-injury-suspensionsportsgirlkat2011-03-09T15:49:44-05:002011-03-09T15:49:44-05:00Zdeno Chara Avoids Punishment From NHL For Hit On Max Pacioretty
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<p>The NHL has decided not to suspend or fine the Bruins' Zdeno Chara following <a href="http://boston.sbnation.com/boston-bruins/2011/3/9/2040054/zdeno-chara-max-pacioretty-hit-suspension" target="_blank">Tuesday night's hit </a>that left the Canadiens' Max Pacioretty with a serious concussion and a fracture of the fourth cervical vertebrae. The <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=555520" target="_blank">announcement</a> from the league came Wednesday afternoon and was made by NHL Senior VP of Hockey Operations Mike Murphy:</p>
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<p>"After a thorough review of the video I can find no basis to impose supplemental discipline. This hit resulted from a play that evolved and then happened very quickly -- with both players skating in the same direction and with Chara attempting to angle his opponent into the boards. I could not find any evidence to suggest that, beyond this being a correct call for interference, that Chara targeted the head of his opponent, left his feet or delivered the check in any other manner that could be deemed to be dangerous.</p>
<p>"This was a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface. In reviewing this play, I also took into consideration that Chara has not been involved in a supplemental discipline incident during his 13-year NHL career."</p>
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<p>After Wednesday's practice <a href="http://bigbadblog.weei.com/sports/boston/hockey/bruins/2011/03/09/zdeno-chara-obviously-i-feel-bad-about-hit-on-max-pacioretty/" target="_blank">Chara briefly spoke with reporters</a>:</p>
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<p>"It's been hard," Chara said. "Obviously I feel bad about what happened. I am trying to make strong hockey plays and play hard. It's very unfortunate that a player got hurt and had to leave the game. It is in my mind."</p>
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<p>Chara added that he plans to reach out to Pacioretty, who remains hospitalized. </p>
<p><i>For all things Bruins, visit <a href="http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/" target="_blank">Stanley Cup of Chowder</a>. </i></p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-bruins/2011/3/9/2040395/zdeno-chara-suspension-hit-max-paciorettyRyan Hudson2011-03-09T13:38:17-05:002011-03-09T13:38:17-05:00Zdeno Chara Awaiting NHL Discipline After Max Pacioretty Hit
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<p>With mere seconds left in the second period during Tuesday evening's <a href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Boston Bruins</a> 4-1 loss to the <a href="https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Montreal Canadiens</a>, Bruins defenseman <span>Zdeno Chara</span> sent Canadiens left winger Max <span>Pacioretty</span> hard into the boards. Pacioretty hit the turnbuckle part of the side boards, which mark the end of the glass at the beginning of a bench, which knocked him unconsious. Pacioretty had to be stretchered off the Bell Centre ice, and rushed to a local hospital via ambulance.</p>
<p>Post-game, Chara denied that he hit Pacioretty with intent to injure, <a href="http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/2185326/chara-not-my-style-hurt-somebody" target="_blank">according to a <i>WEEI</i> report:</a></p>
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<p>"Obviously, that wasn't my intention to push him into the post...It's very unfortunate. In that situation, everything's happening fast, and you're not planning to do that. That's not my style to hurt somebody. I always play hard, play physical, but I never try to hurt anybody. I'm hoping he's OK."</p>
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<p>Pacioretty has a seemingly long road to recovery, <a target="new" href="http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/2185431/pacioretty-has-severe-concussion-fractured-vertebrae">as reports out of Montreal</a> say that he suffered a serious concussion and a fracture of the fourth cervical vertebrae. The Connecticut native will remain hospitalized for the time being.</p>
<p>As for Chara, he received a game misconduct, thus tossed from Tuesday night's game. He was scheduled for a mid-day conference call with NHL disciplinary officials. The conference call may be an indicator of the sanction's severity, as officials normally speak with players via phone for suspensions of up to 5 games.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2011/3/9/2331196/zdeno-chara-awaiting-nhl-discipline-after-max-pacioretty-hitsportsgirlkat