Posted on 03/11/2011 9:06:40 AM PST by Libloather
Police open investigation of hit by Bruins player
By HOWARD ULMAN, AP Sports Writer
11 hours, 30 minutes ago
BOSTON (AP) - Montreal police started a criminal investigation Thursday into the on-ice hit by Boston’s Zdeno Chara that left the Canadiens’ Max Pacioretty with a severe concussion and cracked vertebra.
Police said they are acting on a request by Quebec’s director of criminal and penal prosecutions, Louis Dionne. After evidence is collected, it will be determined if there are grounds for prosecution, they said.
But Pacioretty said he doesn’t want Chara prosecuted.
“I sincerely appreciate all of the support that I have received since my injury,” he said in a statement. “I was disappointed that the NHL did not suspend Zdeno Chara. 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.
“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.”
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
Landing? I don’t see any landing other then the initial hit. The trainer does kneel and hold the player down. I assumed that was to keep him from getting up.
If it is going to be full on brawling to hurt people then don’t call it hockey. Some hockey “fans” love this stuff.
Never seen a hockey game in my life and never much cared for it; however, I understand it gets pretty violent out there on the ice. Is someone just scapegoating here?
You're right. It wasn't even a particularly hard hit (as NHL hits go). It was just poorly or unfortunately timed and the player ended up hitting a corner of "the glass" where it turned in for the bench. Just about zero give there, bad angle, and the player's own momentum was against him.
“I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out.”
I love hockey, and have for a long time. It is indeed a very physical game. But I think it has become too physical. Too many players are getting concussions and a lot of them are from 90 degree or blindside hits. Zdano Chara is a good hockey player but he is absolutely huge by hockey standards. I’d hate to take a check from that guy.
At the most recent Olympics in Vancouver, it was obvious the Olympic Committee wanted the hitting toned down and there was NO fighting. It was some of the best hockey I’d seen in some time.
I would consider football a more violent sport than hockey. Hockey is a more precision game, played at faster speeds than any football player can run. Yes, there are accidents that happen in hockey and some players are sicker than others. This was a case where one player clearly ran the other into an area that is a hazard when on the rink. For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen or heard of any hockey players body slamming dogs.
Still remember Claude Lemieux smashing Chris Draper into
the boards and caving in his face.......
I think the issue is that there is a turnbuckle there. Everyone who's skated a shift knows it's there.
The claim is that the player who made the hit intentionally pushed the others player's face into the turnbuckle.
The playing making the hit says he didn't really know he was near the turnbuckle. Others are calling BS on that claim.
I didn't see the hit. I'm just relating what I think is the background of the controversy.
Criminal Investigation?
How much is that going to cost? I understand this is Canada, but I am 100% confident that the Police there could be doing something more worthwhile with there time and money. Maybe dusting off some cold-case files, or reviewing missing persons? Just a suggestion.
Nobody loves this stuff. It wasn’t a brawl, it was either a very dirty hit (probably not, Chara doesn’t have a history of cheap shots), or just plain bad luck (probably, Pacioretty is by no means the first guy to hit that particular area of glass badly). When the back boards and neck braces come out there isn’t anybody in the stands or on TV that’s happy.
Yep. How nice. Maybe they should take the helmets back off and learn to keep their sticks down. Hockey is a physical game and fights and hard checking are a part of the game.
I’ve seen “the hit’ many times as I live here in Boston. There should not of even been a penalty called let alone a criminal investigation. Come on you pansy Habs fans.I’m sorry the guy got hurt but. Chara could of hurt someone every night of his thirteen year career.
I have some suggestions...Make the rink bigger(Olympic size,right?). Don’t put yourself in the positions to be checked from behind. Half these guys get hurt because they no that no one will check them facing the boards. They use the that tactic to protect the puck. Keep your head up like my mite coach used to tell me.
I like a face paced talent filled game but I also like old time hockey. The way it was meant to be played. If you can’t take it, stay off the ice.
What a bunch a Mary’s up there in Montreal.....Gimmee a break....
Is this article correct?
Zdeno Chara Ejected For Game Misconduct
Also, a game misconduct? Those are fairly rare. Did the refs react to the injury rather than the actual penalty?.
Lucky for you, or me, there's Youtube.
(Be sure to let that video run out and click on 'worst hockey fight ever'.)
Thanks for the background info.
I have to say I can’t recall ever seeing a major for interference. The reaction was absolutely because of the injury. If there were intent a match penalty with intent to injure would of been accessed. The league took no action as far as suspension goes or fines. The guy was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
My other comments pertain to other injuries that imho could be avoided by the injured player. If you put yourself in a bad position expect to get nailed.
Not into hockey at all, but isn’t violence part of the game?
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