NHL feeling the heat over its handling of Chara hit

Many Canadians are furious about the controversial body check on Montreal Canadiens' player Max Pacioretty. They aren't alone. Quebec police are investigating whether Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara should be charged.

CTV Calgary: Kevin Green has local reaction

Young players at Edge School for Athletes in Calgary admit they try to emulate NHL players. One student says he won't be surprised if students try out the bone crushing hit Montreal Canadiens' player Max Pacioretty suffered with on other players.

CTV News Channel: Rob Becker, analyst

A law and sports analyst explains why criminal charges to be laid against Zdeno Chara are unlikely. He also discusses what changes need to be made to the rink and the rules.

CTV News Channel: Tom Mayenknecht

The host of Sport Market on Team 1040 Radio in Vancouver says the commissioner of the NHL does not know how to properly approach the issues the league is facing. He also discusses Gary Bettman's dismissal of sponsorship from Air Canada.

CTV News Channel: Genevieve Beauchemin

Max Pacioretty has been released from hospital, 48 hours since the incident. Beauchemin discusses the extent of his injuries and his career.

CTV Montreal: Camille Ross on the aftermath

The violent hit laid out by Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara on Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty has led Montreal police to launch an investigation and Habs owner Geoff Molson to call for a committee on violence.

CTV Montreal: Rob Lurie on Bettman's reaction

On Thursday afternoon NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman responded with apparent indifference to the possibility of Air Canada pulling out its sponsorship of the league by saying 'that's their prerogative.'

CTV Toronto: Air Canada weighs in on Chara hit

As the hockey world debates the Zdeno Chara hit, Air Canada has threatened to pull its NHL sponsorship unless the league gets serious about preventing head injuries. Zuraidah Alman reports.

Extended: Bettman responds to the decision

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the decision not to further punish Zdeno Chara is supported by almost everyone in the league. He responds to the reports of an Air Canada letter saying it may not want to continue associating its brand with the NHL.

CTV News Channel: Ken Campbell, columnist

A columnist with The Hockey News says Bruins captain Zdeno Chara's hit on Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadians wasn't intentional, but it was a dangerous and careless play that should result in a suspension.

CTV Montreal: Bruno Delorme, sports marketer

Todd van der Heyden talks with the sports marketer about the impact stances from corporations like Air Canada Centre could have on the NHL's rulebook.

CTV News Channel: Howard Bloom, publisher

The publisher of sportsbusinessnews.com says Air Canada is out of line, and explains how the issue will cause players to be scared of body checking others on the ice.

Canada AM: Dr. Blaine Hoshizaki on the injury

A doctor with the University of Ottawa's neurotrauma impact laboratory says Pacioretty's injury is very serious, and it appears the player could not protect himself. He explains how it is unknown if his career is over, as he is still recovering.

Watch: See all Videos in the Player

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Montreal Canadiens' Max Pacioretty is wheeled away on a stretcher after taking a hit by Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara during second period NHL hockey action Tuesday, March 8, 2011 in Montreal.(Paul Chiasson / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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Selected Comment

A clean, hard hit in a rough sport. Arena design is what hurt him as it has done to many players in the past. I'm not a designer or architect but I think a large rounded curvature of plexiglass in these areas may alleviate the problem. Unfortunately the owners would probably lose a couple of seats which would cut into their multi millions.

Dave

Quebec prosecutor asks police to investigate Chara hit

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NHL feeling the heat over its handling of Chara hit

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Thu. Mar. 10 2011 9:51 PM ET

The National Hockey League is facing a growing backlash across Canada over how it has dealt with a devastating hit that sent Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty to hospital with a cracked vertebra.

The NHL faced criticism on several fronts Thursday, with Montreal police launching a criminal investigation into the hit, Prime Minister Stephen Harper urging the league to change its safety policies and Air Canada threatening to withdraw sponsorship.

Canadiens chairman Geoff Molson also released an open letter to the team's fans expressing "frustration, disappointment and shock" over the hit, which was levelled by Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara during a game on Tuesday, and the league's response.

Pacioretty was sent to hospital with a severe concussion and a fractured vertebra. He was released from hospital Thursday and returned home, according to a report in The Montreal Gazette.

Citing an anonymous source at Montreal General hospital, the injured Canadiens forward was able to leave his hospital bed and walk around for brief periods before his release.

Chara was given a penalty for interference and a game misconduct. On Wednesday, NHL senior vice-president Mike Murphy said he will face no further league discipline for the hit, which he called "a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface."

In the face of growing pressure, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman defended the league's response Thursday, saying that while Pacioretty's injury is horrific, it's part of the game.

"Our hockey operations people are extraordinarily comfortable with the decision that they made," Bettman said in Washington. "It was a horrific injury, we're sorry that it happened in our fast-paced physical game, but I don't think whether or not supplemental discipline was imposed would change what happened."

Bettman also said the league can replace any sponsors that pull out.

"Air Canada is a great brand, as is the National Hockey League, and if they decide that they need to do other things with their sponsorship dollars, that's their prerogative."

The air carrier had sent a letter to Bettman earlier in the day, saying that it is "very concerned with the state of hockey today," and that the Pacioretty hit has caused it to reconsider its sponsorship of the NHL.

"From a corporate social responsibility standpoint, it is becoming increasingly difficult to associate our brand with sports events which could lead to serious and irresponsible accidents," the letter reads.

The company does not want to associate its brand "with sports events which could lead to serious and irresponsible accidents; action must be taken by the NHL before we are encountered with a fatality."

Unless Bettman takes immediate action and suspend the player involved, the letter said, Air Canada will withdraw its sponsorship of the league.

Political fallout

Montreal police confirmed Thursday that it has launched a criminal probe at the behest of Quebec's director of criminal and penal prosecutions, Louis Dionne.

"Like all police investigations, evidence will be gathered and an investigation report will be submitted (to the DCPP)," Dionne's spokesperson Martine Berube said Thursday. "(The DCPP) will then evaluate to see whether there's grounds for prosecution."

When asked what kind of punishment might result from the case, Berube said it was too soon to say.

Following an event in Toronto, Prime Minister Stephen Harper urged the NHL to deal with the growing number of serious injuries in the league.

"I want to express sympathy to Mr. Pacioretty, his family, his teammates," Harper told reporters, adding that he hopes to see the 22-year-old "have a full recovery and get back on the ice.

"I think we're all concerned, and I hope the league is concerned, about the number of very serious injuries we've seen in recent times -- and I do think that is something that they're going to have to address."

Gary Lunn, the federal minister responsible for sport, has said the league should take action following Chara's hit and put out a clear message that it was unacceptable.

Habs fans outraged

Police in Montreal have had to ask Canadiens fans to stop calling to file complaints against Chara. Police said their emergency lines started getting flooded shortly after the league announced there would be no suspension.

Pacioretty says he's "disgusted" that the NHL didn't suspend Chara for the hit.

"I am upset and disgusted that the league didn't think enough of (the hit) to suspend him," Pacioretty told TSN's Bob McKenzie Wednesday.

"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."

"It's been an emotional day. I saw the video for the first time this morning. You see the hit, I've got a fractured vertebra, I'm in hospital and I thought the league would do something, a little something. I'm not talking a big number, I don't know, one game, two games, three games... whatever, but something to show that it's not right."

Dr. Blaine Hoshizaki, an expert in sport concussions at the Neurotrauma Impact Laboratory at the University of Ottawa, says while he doesn't know the details of the injury, there is a very real possibility that Pacioretty will never play for the NHL again.

"Not only the fractured vertebra, but also the severe concussion -- both can be career-ending injuries," he told CTV's Canada AM from Ottawa Thursday.

"Any time you damage the vertebrae, it's a serious injury. Fortunately, it's not displaced, which is very important because often these injuries can be resolved. However, it really depends on the type of fracture that occurred."

Hoshizaki notes that injuries such as this one are not altogether common, but nor is this an isolated case in hockey, since hits are an integral part of the game.

"It doesn't really matter if the hit was illegal or not illegal. The question that has to be asked is: is that risk that is part of the game reasonable for anyone who wants to play hockey to have to accept that sort of injury risk?"

With files from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

Wear An FN Helmet
said
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Wow people are quite sensitive these days! If It Happened In Another Part Of The Country To Another Team We Wouldn't Be Commentating on it! $hit Happens, It's Just A Game Get Over it!

Calvin
said
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A late hit, a hit with serious consequences but not a "vicious hit" (shame on you CTV) and certainly nothing like Todd Bertuzzi's thuggery. Fix the stanchion, leave the player alone.

Mervin Norman
said
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I once saw a boxer punch another boxer. He should go directly to jail. Do not pass go.

AGN
said
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gary bettman has lost all persective for the game.he is nothing but an arrogant pompous horse dung. he knows nothing about the game of hockey or the history of lord stanleys mug. when they had the lock out 2005/06 the 2 top senior teams in canada wanted to play for the cup, bettman said no. it then went to the supreme court of canada and ruled for the senoir teams. bettmans gotta go and someone who knows the game inside out. some one who will work for the love of the game. bettman pack your little suitcase and leave/leave our game alone.

RC24
said
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what a waste of time and tax payers money. He will never be charged with any wrong doing because he did nothing wrong .So get over it and move on it was unfortunate that someone got seriously injured .It is not the first time sombody got crushed into the divider .Their is no rulel that says you can't take someone into the boards.

Don
said
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CTV trying to stir the pot here.The only heat the NHL is feeling comes from the Francophone press .and Canadien hockey fanatics.who dont seem to understand or grasp the fact that the hit only warranted an interference penalty.

Phil, Calgary
said
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It is unbelievable that all the bleeding hearts can't see through all the replays that it was the turnbuckle that hurt the player not the hit. If this hit had occurred at any other part of the rink the player would have simply slid along the glass and ended up on the ice with no injury and no penalty. Players have been getting hurt by the turnbuckle for many many years and once again a lack of padding on this so called turnbuckle has caused another injury. It was a clean hit in a dangerous spot.

NS
said
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Stupid design of boards at all rinks.... this was bound to happen. Hopefully we change this before someone gets killed!

hockey girl
said
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@ Stan,, first off I did not sign up to play a man your size,,nor do I make millions playing the game. Had that glass partition not been there there would be no discussion going on. Remember first this is a career for these players,, they play by chioce. There are many , many jobs out there that our families are working that do not have any where near the same same pay ect but they sure carry a lot more risk. These players step on to the ice knowing the size of the players they are playing. In all other work places an injury would involve an investigation,, for example in Mining they would shut down that section of the mine and investigate what happened why it happened and how to make it safer. My point is that he did not take a head shot, he did not intend to hit him into the glass. It is very unfortante that the player was injured this badly,, I hope he has a full recovery. I just think it terrible the way everyone is jumping on the player as opposed to correcting the thing that actually injured the player... The GLASS!!

Sylvain
said
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The glass between both benches should be 1 and 1/2 foot away from the board as it is only there to protect the halway between the benches and the glass at the end of each benches should be made on an angle so if a player is push it would be gradual instead of hitting a beam think that all rink should wake up and start modifying the boards so this type of accident does not happend again.

Jeff Williams
said
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I've been watching hockey for the longest time and can honestly say the only "hit" that even rivals this was the sucker punch that Todd Bertuzzi gave to Sean Moore. I have seen some cowardly hits in sports,but this is a real stinker. I don't like the fact the the big "Z",wasn't handed a suspension. I can however believe that Gary Bettman is a giant panty waste and will not do anything,when other players have been fined or even suspended for lesser offences. This hit makes me sick and it's no wonder that Chara doesn't get along well with others. His whole "speech" in the locker room after was nothing but a carefully crafted lie to all of us and his victim. Yes,these two players have history,but if Chara was a big a man as his size indicates,then he could have given "patchy" an inch more to skate with. The big man just made a huge dumb mistake and I hope the NHL makes their stand,sooner rather then later. P.S. GO SENS GO!!!

Rex
said
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First, to be clear, I am no fan of violence on the ice. However, Chara did not do anything wrong here. It was a clean check and players are regularly crowded into the boards as part of the game. The people who should be accountable for this regretable incident is the arena designers, management and NHL organization for failure to address a design problem. This is NOT the first time someone has been seriously injured because of this design flaw (about 4-5 years ago an Oiler's defenceman suffered a similar injury; he was unconscious and convulsing on the ice) and yet nothing was done about it. Blaming the player in this case is just wrong -- the NHL needs to step up and address the problem in ALL of their arenas....and while we are looking at the issue, municipalities should be looking at their arenas for design flaws such as this and ensure they are corrected.

Randy Thomas
said
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The sneaky blindside attack by Chara on Max tells the whole story. Chara has played long enough to know exactly where he is on the ice and what is there. He chose the cowardly way to inflict as much pain on a player as he could. As you watch the video, Chara raises his left arm to make sure Max's head contacts the support. If Bettman pulls his head out of his ass maybe he would see it too. A criminal investigation is needed, perhaps that will reveal why the people think it is called for. Gutless decisions by Bettman will leave the players to settle the situation.Do you suppose Bettman will look back & pat himself on the back for his pathetic decision if Max's career has ended? May the spirit of the "Rocket" rise to settle the score!

Play it right
said
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Oh yes, to everyone that is saying the rink, the glass, the gate, the etc is at fault. The driving force where Patch's head met the glass was chara's arm.
I can't believe how many fans of other teams hate the Montreal Canadiens so much. I had a friend who once said he had two favourite teams, the Leafs and any team that plays the Habs. That just about sums it up for most of the posts here, oh and for the slime Bettman
Think of Patch in the hospital and then think of some lunatic that might not like what you did to him. Oh but for the grace of God go you

LP
said
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How is that you give Chara a game misconduct on one hand and say that the call was the right one, then say that it was a good hockey play with bad results. It can't be both. If it was determined that there was game misconduct then it is not a good or legal hit. It is time to remove Gary Bettman he is an idiot and he cares about is cornering the American market. He does not care about the Canadian market (where the guaranteed success is). It is time for all Canadian sponsors and Canadian fans to stand up and say we have a voice and we matter to the NHL. Pull all sponsorship and boycott all games. Once the NHL realizes that they are losing hockeys most lucrative market they will begin to listen. Canadian teams should also pull out of the league and start a new league. Also keep all of our Canadian talent. We have the power ignore hockey for the rest of the season.

Play it right
said
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to all the people that are saying "get over it", I hope that Max gets your get well card at the hospital! Unreal, CHARA MEANT TO DO WHAT HE DID!!!! Play a sport, take an intentional nasty hit from a 7' tall player and then you can talk.

Niagara George
said
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I can't believe some of you are saying Chara did not know who the player was or that he was close to the post. Are your heads buried in the nearest snowbank? Have you never talked to a high level hockey player? Even a good 12 year old can tell you in detail who was on the ice with him and what they were doing when he had the puck. He certainly will know who the checked and every detail about what led up to the hit. In this case, the video clearly shows chara look up, delay the hit and then lift his elbow to keep Pacioretty's head over the boards as they passed the stanchion. Hopefully the Montreal police will see it the same way and lay charges. Something has to happen to teach these players to respect each other. This was close, but if things don't change, there will soon be a death on the ice.

HockyinEd
said
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Ahhhh how easy montreal forgets that they are not immune to " cheap " plays... How easily you forget George Laroque knocking out Nick Kronwall of the Red wings for almost an entire season by sticking his knee out to " check " him..... Karma has a way of finding itself right back.... Chara keep playing the game.. Montreal fans.. grow up.

J-Dubya
said
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Murderers, rapists, people abusing children, impaired drivers and drug dealers unchecked on the streets and in our schools and Montreal law enforcement want to devote time, money and man hours investigating this?? Give me a break. Enough already!

Rob Canadian
said
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The NHL, the players and fans, the design of the hockey rinks are all contributing facts that led up to this whole event. This whole thing could of been prevented if a 2 foot piece of glass was installed at a 45 degree angle where the glass ends by the players benches or where ever the glass starts and ends along the boards. To get the police invlolved in this case is a waste of time because of the way it happened and the lack of protection provided along the boards. Nothing will change untill Betman is replaced, he says he wants to stop head shots but what has HE done to stop what is going on in the NHL. Its a disgrace to the game, and as the lack of respect from the players themselves is disturbing. Great influence for the younger kids playing hockey.They are called pros so its time they start acting like professionals.

DJ
said
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"Ruth
Too bad Pacioretti's name wasn't Sid Crosby. Then there would be a suspension. The NHL is dispicable."

Or Pacioretty.

But yeah, that makes no sense. Neither hit to Crosby resulted in a suspension.

Pat
said
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No activity that is illegal elsewhere in Canada should be legal on a hockey rink.

CTV & CBC should also drop support for the NHL, including broadcasting of games, until the violence ends.

True Fan of the Habs
said
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I still cannot come to terms with such level of violence in the hockey arena. Yes it is a highly physical sports and for most, it's all about winning, no matter what it takes but I still think there are many who do enjoy the games and would prefer not to see fights and hits as what we are seeing. If Chara's hit was not intentional, too bad, Max at this point does not know if he will ever be able to play Hockey again, if this should ever be the case, think of the impact it will have on his life, loved ones, this is someone's dream that may be shattered.The NHL should change the rules to ensure that players would think twice if there is any such intent. I am not saying, there will never be accidents but we all know that these incidents are happening far too often.

JS
said
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I am happy my son takes part in martial arts rather than play hockey. It seems as each season passes NHL hockey gets harder and harder to watch. Goons squaring off in meaningless fights, Crosby out while the league sits on there hands and says nothing we can do. Can't wait for the world juniors to come around the best hockey played each year.

Theodore Girouard
said
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What has hockey come to? When Bettman supports Chara's hit as an acceptable, "...part of the game". I want no part of this 'sport'. Sickening!
I was disappointed to see Chara leave Ottawa, he was a fan favorite but with no direction from the league, he leads the charge towards barbarian ultimate fighting sensationalism. Hockey fans should revolt as Air Canada has chosen to do.

C Garrard
said
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O Booooo Hooooooo... For those who think hockey is to violent, trade your sticks & skates for too too's, little pink ballerina slippers or feather pillows. Or is that to dangerous also. The game from day one has had a physical aspect, Yes sure some hits are dirty, unnecessary & should be dealt with. But what is hockey without a little physical contact? The best thing is try to design equipment & arenas to be safer for the players

Jo
said
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Why is the Ministry of Labour not all over this?If something happens on a construction site the employer is immediately under review and huge fines are levied almost certainly to employers for not paying attention to dangerous conditions .... The stanchion was a very dangerous accident waiting to happen ... the employer, the LEAGUE, should be heavily fined and forced to compensate in this kind of situation .... that is not asking too much as it certainly won't bring back the guy's spine ....

D White
said
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The Bell Centre should be redesigning how the glass around the ice is held in place. If those posts weren't there the hit would of been a normal NHL hit. The players are more concerned on the play than the design of the arena.

J
said
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Negligence. The League. The Arena. Thats it. Shame, shame shame on the media for dramatizing by drawing the focus to the wrong issue of intent by Chara. The LEAGUE and/or ARENA must take responsibility, NOT Chara. The workplace and the employer's responsibility.I, in Toronto, could not believe how during the G20 the media went on and on and on about protest raucus after protest raucus, but almost never mentioned what anybody was protesting about .... I don't remember anything people were protesting about then and I heard a lot of newscasts. Do you remember anything people were protesting about then? Probably not. Again, moron-media is to blame.In this case we should pursue league blood. Don't let the focus deflect to where it can do no good. We can't prove intent, but we can get a negligence charge on the part of the league stanchion design to go somewhere ... Go for league blood not Chara's .... focus people, focus ... league blood !!!

Ted
said
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If anyone is to blame for this.. it's the designers of the hockey rink at the Centre Bell. What a ridiculously dangerous place to install a stanchion!!!.. anyone with an eye and an a___ole can clearly see this. I'm sorry for Max Pacioretty and Zdeno Chara.. Hockey has always been a rough and tumble sport, and the NHL got it right in not fining or suspending Chara. Sue the designers... a BUNCH!!

Daniel From Toronto
said
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only in Montreal would their fans get their police to incite a investigation. It was a terrible hit and play no doubt but people who keep on exaggerating and saying Chara's hands were on his head obviously haven't looked at the video. It shows clearly the only think Chara touched was his shoulder. So please stop with the ridiculous comments and phone calls to police they have much better things to do.

nicole
said
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I think this is being completely taken out of hand. It was clearly unintentional to cause harm. Anyone who wants to play hockey understands that there is possibilities for injuries and this is there own choice. People need to calm down and just hope that the montreal player has a speedy recovery. As for Chara... let it be.

Jack Laki
said
0 0

I just wish everyone would just get real. Chara is not at fault here. The fault lies with the way the boards are setup around some NHL rinks. If glass had been installed above the boards where the Canadian player got hit by Chara, we would not be discussing this tragedy, and demanding Chara's head. Most sections of the boards and glass are meant to flex when hit by players. The same cannot be said for the glass partition that the Montreal player was checked into. Basically he got checked into a brick wall with no give whatsoever. Maybe the owners of the Montreal Canadians should be charged with failing to protect the players.

Linda
said
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In all sports people get hurt, rugby, soccer, football and hockey and baseball..

Players check each other into boards and injuries may or may not happen, everyone is blowing this way out of hand I am willing to bet yes the guy that checked him is feeling bad for what happened..

Someone hits a baseball it connects with someone's nose do police get involved, my 15 yr old playing rugby someone tackles her and she breaks a limb are the police going to be involved then? Chance's are NOT likely it's how some sports are played!

These player know that there's a chance they may get injured does it stop them from playing?

God good look at that guy who got cut by a skate a few years back these things happen in ANY sport!

David
said
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Media Hype is all it is.

concerned
said
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It will come to a point that we we'll see a news story about someone dying on the ice

Wes in Alberta
said
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It's time for Bettman to step down. If all the world focused on this unfortunate incident. He makes it sound like sponsors are a dime a dozen.(Bettman also said the league can replace any sponsors that pull out. )He has dropped the ball twice in the last few days. First by not giving further punishment to Chara. I mean sure maybe Chara never meant to hurt Pacioretty as bad as he did . But he had to have know where they were on the ice and to hit him to the boards there. I understand that its a fast game and sometimes things can happen. but come on this is a persons life.And then secondly to make a comment like the one above, its just not good business. All in all I think that if Bettman isn't replaced the NHL will really suffer for this.

chuck
said
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Quote: Any fool can see that Chara's hit was intentional

That's partly right! If you see it as intentional, then yes, you are the fool...

jennywren
said
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After reading some of these comments I have to wonder how many of those calling for Chara's head are from Quebec, more specifically Montreal.Granted they were two of the greatest players in hockey but still Maurice Richard was known to be a bit of a goon in his day. One example was his hit over the the head of Hal Laycoe. How many people remember the whines and reactions from Montrealers when he was suspended. Another great was Gordie Howe who was known for his butt ending in close quarters. It must be nice that there is no serious crime in Montreal and that the Police have to pass their time on something that they should leave to the NHL and their experts.

AGN
said
0 0

marc saverd hit was a cheap shot, just as serious and more of a cheap shot by big foot chara.sooner or later you will get yours sasquatch. hope that chargers are filed against that goof. and all you bruin fans think it was a clean hit your all crazy. the bruins are a chokers team. and fans that sit on their fat ass's eating beans and swilling cheap ale. chara's days i really hope numbered

Robert
said
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What no-one seems to have mentioned is that Pacioretty's career is effectively over. Who's responsible for that???

reidjr
said
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Niagara George
There is no way 20 games would have been light for this type of hit it would have been very very hard.If you say he should get say 60 games for this hit your opening the door for many to get the same including many super stars.

Whiteout
This is not anti montreal look at all the bad plays that are happening league wide.

Sadie
said
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a legal hit or not - the result is a horrific injury -
Bettman is an arrogant idiot*( * %*&#^#@ !! = the real term is not suitable language for print !) - the injuries are becoming too severe - why - because the players can get away with bad hits - bullies on ice.... a little bit of shoving and bumps used to ok .. but now its a blood sport .... no thanks
bottom line is Bettman thinks hits = exciting games = more money ... faced paced good scoring games are what a good match is about !
Saying any loss of sponsorship is both irresponsible arrogant and just plain ignorant ..
when is someone going to stand up and say ENOUGH !

RR
said
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A criminal charge would not likely stand up in court as it has to be proven that Chara acted deliberately with intent to injure beyond a reasonable doubt.However, I think it is clear from the video of this incident that Chara acted in a careless manner forcing the injured player into the exposed post.1. Chara should be punished by the NHL but since they haven't done so they have left an opening for those who want civil or criminal charges laid.2. Why is there no padding on exposed posts to protect players?

Deb
said
0 0

Davey Boy & Windex - Cheers!!

You sum it up perfect!!!

If the tables were turned and it was a Bruin that was down for the count....there wouldn't even be a story.

As for Air Canada - guess what??

I'm flying WEST JET!!! Olay Olay!!

Jason Daniel Baker, Toronto
said
0 0

In my opinion Zdeno Chara deliberately drove Max Pacioretty into the stanchion in a moment of pure viciousness knowing his team was going to lose.You can't expect Gary Bettman, an American brought in solely to negotiate lucrative TV deals for a league dominated by greedy American owners, to have any understanding of why this is wrong or have any interest in penalizing Chara, the captain of an American team in the playoff hunt even after he may have ended, or at very least shortened the career of Max Pacioretty.

howard
said
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NHL--WOULD YOU PLEASE FINALLY WAKE UP!! I am starting to thing that it will take a fatality on the ice for you clowns to finally do something about ANY head shot. By the way that includes a blind side punch as well ie. Todd Bertuzzi. He still playing the game and making milions while his victim cannot play hockey and can hardly make ends meat! There is something wrong with this picture. Oh did I mention someone by the name of Sidney Crosby?

John Baltic
said
0 0

You'd think that the Montreal Police Department had better things to do with their resources. If it weren't for that stanchon, Max wouldn't be in the hospital. The referee could have just as easily bumped him through an open bench door. Bet Inspector Clouseau is still investigating the Rocket Richard riots.

Play it right
said
0 0

Bettman, the slimey little toad, needs to be gone. He has never played a sport, let alone a contact sport, in his life. He is just an awful piece of humanity. He is unreal, by what he just said, in essence is that he is blowing off Canada. Oh my word, get a backbone Bettman. Have you ever thought of how much you are hated by the players? Venting here but he makes me sick

JOHN from ON
said
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Wonder how the police are going to solve this case? Assault in a contact sport, really? Better call Hecule Poirot to solve this one Montreal!

Jayme
said
0 0

Pat McDonald
The big ice surface does not make a real big difference in terms of injurys in soem cases players get hurt more on the big surface.Just 2 years ago M.Geber broke his neck playing in europe he was hit and it was a very dirty hit.Just 3 years ago another player did suffer a brocken neck as he was going after the puck and got hit from behind again on the big ice.So to say the international ice is safer is 100% false.

shane
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Gary Betmann and his gang should be hog tied and left to rot! As for Chara he ll get his .

Brad
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I have mixed feelings about this situation. First of all, it was not a dirty hit, it was an unfortunate situation, but not dirty. The league isn't able to protect everyone from freak situations such as this, which isn't a lot different than if a player gets hit, and then falls head first into the dasher of the boards. Could Chara have let up from the hit? Possibly, but in the heat of the moment, did Chara really time the hit purposefully ? Likely not. It was just bad timing and the Canadien player was in the wrong place at the wrong time. If the league wants to avoid injuries such as this from re-occurring, then I am afraid they are going to have to put plex-glass all the way around the ice, so there are no corners, meaning that there would have to be glass protecting each player's bench. Is this what the teams would like? Probably not, but this is the answer to avoid such injuries from occurring. But dangerous hits are concerning and it all stems from the league's failure to tighten up on checking from behind. A few years ago, there was a real clampdown on obstruction penalties and a new standard was established. I am not understanding why the standard didn't include CFB (Checking From Behind). The only way they are going to curtail this problem with dangerous CFB's is to start calling it a CFB when a player gets hit from behind without it being a dangerous hit......including open ice CFB's. As for the police department to investigate this case, is a complete and utter joke. The hit wasn't deemed to be a deliberate attempt to injure, therefore, a court of law would throw this out in a heartbeat.

Niagara George
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All you have to do is watch the video a couple of times. Chara looks up, sees the coming post and waits for the hit. At the exact second, he throws his elbow and body into the player. Chara knew exactly what would happen. Perhaps the injuries were more than he expected, but that is no excuse. His intent was to have the opposing player smash into a steel post. There was a day when hockey players respected each other and that area of the ice was safe. A twenty game suspension would be a soft penalty. Hockey has lost another rung on the ladder of respectability.

vince in trenton
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Here is one more comment for you to mull over....should the police (if they have nothing better to do) not be looking for the 'FAN' who threw his beer down from the stands after this incident took place and hit the Bruins back-up goalie.....is that not a more obvious charge of assault than this hockey play is???? Find the real criminals before you go looking for some thing wrong in a game that doesn't need the police involvement.....

whiteout
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The anti Montreal tone of a lot of these comments seems to reinforce the belief, by many in Quebec, that the league is out to get them. Someone mentioned the Rocket Richard incident and failed to understand its social significance. At that time French Canadian players were treated unfairly by the league and his suspension just poured fire onto the problem. ( Sometimes games do reflect societal problems ) There is a definite lack of respect for people in society and this is reflected by the attitude of hockey players towards each other. During the interviews with Chara, after the incident, he wasn't upset or remorseful in any way. If this was an accident wouldn't he have been extremely upset ? After the Bertozzi incident, Todd was in tears he was so upset. I find it disgusting when the public blames the victim for an assault. Joe said Pacioretti should have known about the stanchion. How can a man flying down the ice, who is hit by someone taller then himself think about where the stanchion is ? And as far as saying that Chara is innocent because he'd never hurt anyone before, I don't believe that Todd Bertozzi had seriously hurt anyone before his Steve Moore incident either.

daveyboy
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leave it to montreal to try and screw every thing up once again. Maybe Hockey shouldn't be in Montreal if they can't handle the speed and physicality of the game. I hear speed walkers of America are looking for a new venue. No wait that may even be to quick and violent for Montreal. It's the nature of a fast competitive Sport don't watch it if you don't like it and don't comment if you don't watch it.

Windex
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Air Canada remove your sponsorship if you want but don't come across as you are doing the morally right thing because I have flown with you and you have bigger problems to solve. As for criminal charges - get real - it was a bad hit but it was not intentional...these things happen in the world of hockey and if you do not like it stop watching and keep your mouth closed.

pat McDonald
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How soon we forget. Just scant months ago hundreds of millions watched Canada defeat the USA in the Gold Medal Game that out hustled and out paced any Stanley Cup Final. The intensity, skill and speed displayed was Hockey as it should be played. $ Penalties called the entire game. No goons sent out to teach anyone a lesson as the lesson was there for all to see. Hockey played by dedicated, skilled athletes is a joy to behold. So what happened then? Well we returned to the world old free enterprise- where negotiations and profits are paramount. Why can’t we take out seats and make the ice surface bigger? There are very big men out there now. Chara is 6 ft. nine inches and is his stick therefore longer than any other player? Is this even legal? We have jammed big athletes into postage stamp rinks and wait for skill to happen? I don’t think so. The climate and culture in hockey today is conducive to stopping the Sidney Crosbys of this world and certainly not to free them to display their skills. The Culture has to change or we are going to be the bottom feeder sport in no time at all.Pat McDonaldRocky Mountain House, Ab.

DED
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Just imagine how good the game would be if they played the puck rather than waiting to see how hard they can ram somebody against the boards - even when the puck is long gone. They should either clean up the game or be quiet when somebody gets hurt - doing what is routine in the game.

Bettmen is a Lunatic!
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With Bettmen's hypocrysy he is ruining the game. I only have 1 word for Bettmen, Adios! you lost a fan. I hope more people will join me until this Lunatic is fired!!!

Jack
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@ Don from Edm .... Interference is a 2 minute minor.....that's all Chara deserved the refs gave him more then that....Us hockey fans have seen this hit many times over the years and nobody has cried about anything...the fact of the matter is Chara is a huge beast that in no way had 2 hands behind Max P's head as Andrew said it's unfortunate that the injury is as serious as it is but we all hope Max get's better ... Chara can move on and hopfully one day all the habs fans will stop crying everytime someone hits one of their players in a full contact sport...If the habs have such a problem with it then get back at them in the playoffs not with the cops.....as of now both teams meet in the first round.Hockey is full contact sport .... watch golf if this play horrified you.

Mallory
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Yes please move our limited law enforcement money into investigating a "hit". Those Rape Victims, Missing Children, and the murdered people of Quebec really appreciate it.

Dave Gordon
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I agree 100% with Don's comments. What's more, Gary Bettman's response was nothing short of irresponsible.

Vanc Guy
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An excellent reason why no Quebec City shouldn't get a team. How nuts is this? Having the police involved in contact sports - how French!!

Disappointed in the media coverage
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When I first heard of this hit I assumed it was something worse or as bad as the hit from Bert. When I watched the footage I was disappointed at how much attention this was getting, police action - really? I agree with everyone here that mentions that if the hit was given elsewhere on the ice this injury wouldn't have happened! I think the league took proper action. This is just an excuse for Air Canada to help them from going bankrupt again. Shame on the Montreal Police for sticking their nose where it doesn't belong, this was not intentional. Seriously people - get over it.
I really do hope that Max Pacioretty has a full recovery. It really is disheartening when someone has such a serious injury - best wishes to Max and his family for a speedy recovery.

Logan
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Haha, you guys think that Air Canada's influence will force Bettman to put styrofoam on the players bodies to minimize danger? Do you think Air Canada's message to Bettman that they're going to pull out worry him? He just basically said on NHL.com , "if you want to go, then go. Our players will find another way to get to their games." In other words, he probably already has another sponsor lined up if Air Canada decides to pull the plug. Just remember, Air Canada is the one losing out on 20 million dollars per year AT LEAST if they make this decision. Bettman knows how to avert threats to his League. Air Canada is nothing more than a sponsor to him, and that is EXACTLY what Air Canada is: A sponsor. They can't force him on how to run his league.

Dan
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Air Canada's offices are in the Montreal area, I wonder as Hab fans if this has biased them.

Steve
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Mr. Mike Murphy & Mr. Gary Bettman.... Kindly disclose which video replay you watched. As for the rest of us we see Chara look at the post - look at the player and then shove him into the turnbuckle if you please. So maybe Chara didn't mean to inflect that amount of damage, but regardless Chara lined him up and took him out. As for you Mr. Bettman to say if a sponsor pulls out, you will replace them is a sorry coment which in its self shows the lack of respect you have for a fallen player whom in everyone's opinion was done on purpose.

Pat McDonald
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Small rinks big men huge sticks greedy owners= disaster and not great hockey. But larger rinks less greedy owners- and a revisit of the Olympic Gold Medal Game should enlighten the hockey gurus of what seems now an old boys club- where goons thrive- hockey suffers- all for money- in negotiations- in expansion- in contracts and in the linings of owner's pockets. I'm amazed some owner hasn't decided to put more seats in at ice level. I fear the times are passing old ways by and pretty soon each of us will be impoverished by the colossal destruction of a once great game.

BRAYDEN
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This is the biggest joke i've ever heard of. Any player in the nhl is aware of the risks that come with the game. Montreal fans are brutal. like seriously who calls the cops. let the nhl decide the consequences. if you think otherwise you might as well join quebec and cry about it. guranteed don cherry would agree! also do you think the nhl really cares if air canada backs out. theres probably hundreds of sponsor waiting to get there names in. give your head a shake!!

K.O'ed kid
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1st thing, to all the die hards calling out Air Canada, they have every right as a corporate sponsor to pull out if they feel they are being associated with a violent amd reckless sport. They sponsored hockey, not WWE or UFC.

Lemieux made very similar comments after the circus the circus that was the pens-islanders game. Something along the lines of "if this is the direction the NHL is headed in, I need to reconsider if this is a game I want to be a part of."

Secondly, as a high level athlete whose career was ended by head shots, there is no good reason to hold off on making ANY contact to the head an automatic 10 min. misconduct, as in minor hockey. A few less highlight reel hits for the sake of saving numerous careers? Well, I'll let you decide on that one.

My final point is directed at the NHL's disciplinary response (or lack thereof). Chara, who has played at the Bell Centre numerous times and is a seasoned veteran, must have known where they were on the ice and where that partition was. And if he didn't, well in tort law its a duty of care. And I know its a sport with inherent risk, and they are well compensated, but pacioretty is lucky to be walking, or alive for that matter. Nobody accepts the risk of being shoved face first into a metal partition when they lace em up.

Disagree? You take a ride with Chara into a metal post.

Pack o Ready
said
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Air Canada needs to review the old adage "those who live in glass houses should not cast stones". More people die in airplanes than in hockey rinks every year.

Logan
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Cara, the NHL is what separates your little boys from MEN. Men like physical contact, it's in our blood to be physical. We are BUILT to be physical. If you want to watch your Atom league where the score ends up 16-12 because no one is allowed to touch the other or block a shot, then be my guest. If you don't like HNIC, then go watch Women's Hockey, where the Canada Women's team scored 30-plus goals on their opponent every game.

Jayme
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Hang em' high
Would criminal chrages be a good thing maybe but many of those calling for it now would be aginst it if one of there players were charged.

Bill Bell
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Bill Bell, Stirling.Home of Rob Ray and Matt Cooke.I worked in industry for 37 years and if we saw something that could cause injury, it was fixed. The opening at the players bench is the culprit in this case. This type of injury can and will happen again. Get off Chara's case. I don't believe for one minute he intentionally meant to do the damage done. Fix the problem now. How ? Not sure. Fill it in with glass ? Put more doors there ? I don't know about the rest of you but it's really really hard to feel sorry for guys making waaaaay too much money. A doctor spends years in school and tons of money to be able to save your life. Who would you rather make the big bucks ? I know who I want to receive mega bucks.I refuse to pay the outrageous price to see a professional hockey game.

greg
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Anybody see the TAmpa Chicago game, anybody see the "horrible" hit on Dave Bollard by Pavel Kubina....Kubina was suspended by the NHL for 3 games....WTF!?!?!??!

Logan
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Toe Blackfoot, so you're saying that in MLB, for example, if someone gets clunked in the head with a ball, sponsors should pull out because the ball did considerable damage to the player's head? Or if the grass is slippery during a rainfall and a player slips and slides, and plows his face into the dirt, sponsors should pull out because management didn't supply enough paper towels to dry the grass? In baseball, bats get tossed into the crowd and clunk people for pete's sake. Accidents happen, get over it. Air Canada should get over it too. If they pull out, so be it. The NHL can find many other sponsors to fill the void. Just don't be surprised if it's an American that takes over the ACC.

CanadianGeorge
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Didn't have my glasses on when I first read the headline, I thought it said "Montreal Police to Investigate MOB HIT". Don't they have anything better to do? Speeders, Traffic Control, Construction fraud, Domestic Abuse,and the entire spectrum of actual criminal activity?

Earl
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Put this into perspective people. When was the last time you saw someone run into the stanchion like that? You cannot safeguard every aspect of the game, injuries are inherent. If you are old enough to remember the deflector plate, you have seen changes in the game. The metal plate was removed as players were being cut by it. Similarly, the metal pipe stuck in the concrete to hold the net in place has also been replaced. A player had to be impaled on the post before they changed to breakaway nets. Every player in minor and junior hockey now wear a neck guard, and goalies wear one plus a dangler because of accidents. How about the girl that was hit by a puck in Ohio. After her death, netting was installed in all arenas behind the end boards. Helmets are now required by all on ice arena employees as the result of another death. These changes for the better came at a great cost. Now the stanchion itself needs to be re-engineered. More padding, movement, angling or deflecting the impact, whatever. There are four in every rink in North America and they do not move.

Danny in Halifax
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It was an accident, plan and simple. If there were going to be any charges, they would be laid against whoever allowed a design in the arena like that. I'm amazed it hasn't happened before this. I love my Canadiens but I'm sorry - a witch hunt in this case if a total waste of time.

Andrew in PEI
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I suppose it has nothing to do with the fact that Colin Campbell's son plays with the Bruins as to why there was no extra suspension for Chara. Also saying that he was never suspended before in his 13 year career was taken into consideration in the decision does that mean if I drink and drive tonight and get caught I won't be charged because I have never been caught before in my 24 years of driving?!

Logan
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So what you all are saying is: "Let's put styrofoam padding on the face, the shoulders, the arms, the legs, the feet, the body, and the back. Let's have them all look like a bunch of marshmallows on skates, make the hockey sticks made of rubber, oh wait, nope, that could slap someone, it's too violent, so let's just make the hockey sticks made of paper, and then everything will be alright." Sorry, but people don't pay big money to see a RECREATION HOCKEY GAME. People go the game to see the checking, the hits, the blood, the scoring, and the talent. They pay to see it ALL, not just tidbits. If a bunch of soccer moms want to cry about their "poor baby" getting hurt, then maybe they should have sat down with their sons and read the NHL player contracts, which do state that injuries could occur. And before you go on to say, "maybe we should put your kid on skates to get hit by Chara" . If my son signed the contract and got hit, he made his bed by signing the contract and he has to weasel out of it. Pure and simple.

Peter m Horan
said
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MORE THAN A HEAD SHOT it is about the loss of our identity as CanadiansThe Americanization of our sport hockey and our politics must stop.We sit here and watch true hockey players like Crosby,Savard,Kariya,Richards,Pacioretty knocked out of hockey while Gary Bettman and his cronies do nothing.Why?Because American gladiator sports are what Americans want.Hockey cities across Canada like Quebec,Winnipeg,Hamilton that could easily fill 15-20000 seats are refused while cities like Phoenix,Nashville,Raleigh that cannot even draw 5000 fans with good teams are propped up.Thus we have head shots the Amarican gladiator sport not hockey. Thank you Air Canada and Michael Ignatieff and anyone else who is fed up and wants our Canadian identity back Hockey is out sport!

Senshound
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There is no doubt this was a big hit by Chara but this type of hit happens in "every" game. A check along the boards, interference or not, is part of the game. Everybody makes them. While unfortunate that Pacioretty was hurt, Chara is not the type of guy, like Matt Cooke or Gillies, who make hits with deliberate intent to injure. I feel sorry for Pacioretty but you have to be tough and take checks if you want to play hockey today. Maybe the Habs should put in appropriate padding and stop blaming Chara. As for Lunn or a Quebec police investigation, it is nothing more than politics and reacting to angry Habs fans. If you are going to punish Chara then you need to punish every player who makes a check along the boards in every game. Get over it and move on.

Mike Carroll
said
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If you do the crime, you do the time!

Jayme
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Habs fan in Toronto
As with the crosby play that was not even close to beeing illegal.Was is bad what did happen yes but at the same time players such as sid and ovechkin have aslo given there fair share of cheap hits.If you went by the logic players should be out as long as the player they hit well put it this was alot of players will be sitting out including alot if super stars.

chel in the Peg
said
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Remember that old saying "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out"?

Gary
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The hit was a late hit and such was only interference for which Chara was penalized for. The game misconduct very likely only to get Chara off the ice safely. There was no head shot and while we don't know what Chara was thinking there appears to be no intent to injure just to finish his check.So the league has to look at two things to prevent such injuries;1) make hockey a noncontact sport or2) redesign the rinks so as there is a curve where the benches are exposed.

jay
said
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Ladyhawk
The laws of the gen public don't aplly to the rink if all of them did the league would have to fold.

Don from Edmonton
said
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Looking at the previous posts, there are a lot of people indicating that it was a clean check, that if it had happened anywhere else on the ice there would have been no injury. The fact of the matter is that this check was clearly interference, so by definition it was not clean. The fact that a player was injured by a check that should not have happened in the first place is what I believe should be punished; whether there was intent or not is irrelevant. A play that was against the rules resulted in what could very well be a career ending injury and Chara should have faced discipline from the league.

Freak accident
said
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After having reviewed the video several time this was a hit more of a ride out of play but Patch unfortunately and unintentionally hit the officials box. There was no intentional push to have him hit that box it was just an unfortunate accident which resulted from the hit. Those making more of this than it is are in denial and wrong. The cops will come to the same conclusion. Had the box not been there he would have no injury. Just a combination of events came together at the same time. Chara was not in the wrong.

Mark5
said
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Hockey is brutal and violent, what do you expect?

charlie
said
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Gary Bettman and his cronnies are a joke to the NHL!If you accidently clip someone with your stick and they bleed its a 5min penalty.Knocking someone out should be a automatic 5 game suspension! ..or atleast something.Really hoping the RCMP find so dirt on this obvious dirty play ..and make Gary Bettman look like the chump he is.

peter in mb
said
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I dont care if it was a deliberate hit or not. When a player is hauled off the ice on a stretcher with a broken neck and saver concussion someone went too far. The point of hockey is to put the puck in the net and score more goals then the other team. If you want to knock someone out then you should become a boxer.

Michael Fitzgerald
said
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It appears to me, after reviewing the tape of this disgusting "hit", that this was a deliberate attempt to injure another player, by Zdeno Chara.This incident definitely warrants a criminal investigation! Implied consent or not, no athelete should play this game with the fear that they may possibly be injured seriously, or killed. I am further disgusted by Bettman and Murphy, who have their heads stuck in their mounds of cash! Has anyone ever seen a lawyer with skates on? How would Bettman or Murphy feel if they had been on the recieving end of this so-called "hit"? The lawsuits would NEVER end!!!!!

Toe Blackfoot
said
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Air Canada is to be commended for doing what other sponsors SHOULD have done years ago - hold Bettman accountable for his lack of action in cleaning up the sport he is commissioner of. Having said that however people get hurt and this hit is within the NHL guidelines was not intended to injure. Chara is a responsible player and his record speaks for itself.

Kevino
said
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I love how a internet connection and a keyboard turns everyone into a hockey expert. Mike Murphy played 900 NHL games and coached for 4 seasons. I believe he's more qualified to make a decision then anyone on these forums. We can debate the hit all day but the NHL has ruled, lets move on!

Cara B, NS
said
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There is absolutely no need for this level of deliberate violence in any "sport". Obviously the rules need to change if what was done here is considered "clean", because it was blatantly WRONG to do that to another person. This sort of thing is exactly why minor hockey registration numbers are dropping like a rock all across Canada. Hockey is becoming a dying sport here because people are getting fed up with the violence and turning away. It is not true that violence is "integral" to the game. I would much rather watch a few games of Novice or Atom level kids playing than watch HNIC. No checking at all at those levels and it's all about skill. That's what hockey as a sport should be about. It's too bad the NHL has Americanized professional hockey to the level of UFC, but that's all about the money.Kudos to the sponsors for threatening to pull out. I have new-found respect for Air Canada for that.

Mr Cherry
said
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This is total crap. A criminal investigation, give me a break, this is a rough sport, if you cant take the hits get out of the kitchen. Stop whining, only in quebec, bunch of whiners, why dont you with draw you habs team and join the women hockey club where it wont be as rough. There is also the idea of consent. They are on the ice, you take the risks, also design has to come into play. Hockey is a rough sport there will be injuries, this investigation is nothing but a stance for quebec to neuter the league. And thats all folks.

whiteout
said
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"a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface."

What a nice clean answer which would fit nicely on an accounting spreadsheet. Forget moral and ethical issues, this has beome a legally based decision. Our legal system is based on precedent. (Chara didn't do anything before so its okay for him to seriously injure a man now - intent or not) Experts say that the hockey arena is not reality and therefore can't be legally administered the same way. It looked like intent to injure and there are horrendous consequences so someone has to be held accountable. Chara is said to be a nice guy, however the influence of a goonish type of mentality on the Boston Bruins team is sure to have an influence on his "nice" personality. Ironic that the NHL is trying to eliminate fighting and yet condones the type of life threatening activity that Chara participated in. The sad truth is that with all of this wrangling back and forth there is a man lying in a hospital bed, probably terrified and feeling very alone. He is being forgotten. My prayers are with you Max and I pray that you recover quickly and as painlessly as possible.

Ladyhawk
said
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This is why I stopped watching hockey on TV. This is violence at it's most condoned form. I cringe every time I see a player hit against the glass so hard it shakes. The TV cameras are so conveniently placed that every nuisance of pain is obvious. What disturbs me the most is that fans enjoy this form of violence. I work in the Justice system and if this type of behaviour was done to and by the general public, it would be assault. Clean up the game!

Steve Peterson
said
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I have played hockey half. my life. I too was injured by a check like this. I suffered a season ending shoulder injury. I feel there was nothing wrong with this hit nor on the hit to me. Change the configuration of the boards, don't go after the player. It was a legal hit. It was just a hit. Leave it at that. Soon checking won't be allowed. Don't turn it into a pussy sport.

J
said
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You guys and gals are all talking about blaming one of the players ... what about the league and rink? Are you all being paid to write in and keep the attention away from the league's or arena's responsibility as an employer to make the workplace safe and non-hazardous? I mean a post right in the way of the fastest sport on foot in the world ??? Get real ...The rink is a workplace. The employer is responsible for removing known hazards from the workplace. Hockey is the fastest game on foot in world. How moronic is it to put a post right in that path .... Both players should look into sueing the league for such stupidity in rink design. It was bound to happen sooner or later to someone. The two involved in this are just the first unfortunates for it to happen to. It looked like a clean hit, but either checking should not be allowed in the open board areas of the rink or fix the 'insert beep here' rink!!! I see lawsuits pending ... and well there should be someone accountable ... just look at the player lying on the ice and think of his parents who spent their lives raising this boy just to become cripple .... shame on the league and arenas for allowing this to happen. Take responsibility for your actions or inactions and help these people ....

Jay
said
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To all those fans that think the hit was a bad hit, well it was a bad hit in the fact that a player got hurt as bad as he did. But to the fact that chara a player that has never been in the leagues bad books ever did not purposely throw him into the board. If you watch fully you can see his feet and body were pulling away and his head was looking forward toward where the puck went. He never meant to cause the injury to pescatorrie. The rink design is flawwed, I believe there should be glass all around the rink even the players benches with larger doors so the players can get in and out easier and possibly more doors installed would solve everything wrong about the design flaws and probably save injuries and squanders like this. Nextly as for Chara well he got exactly what was deserved a penalty and a game, although it wasnt purposeful he had injured someone and that should be the final stance a penalty at most for a clean hit. Lastly who cares about air canadas view on the situation, they are just trying to bolster their image so people will continue to fly with them, I fly westjet they offer faster and lower priced fares when i fly canada. I hope people just continue to be as passionate about the game as they are passionate about writing thier comments.. All the best

Bob,Calgary,Alberta
said
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The NHL owners are an irresponsible bunch of greedy swine who condone violence as being part of the (so-called) sport. Hockey has become akin to bullfighting where the objective is to hurt other players and intimidate opponents. I am ashamed that a sport we call our own has deteriorated so much that outstanding players like Crosby have to sit out game after game because of a concussion. In the NHL the goons and fighters rule while players with superb skills are becoming less and less common. I don't watch hockey any longer because the skills I once marvelled at are in short supply now.

Cristina
said
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Nice job playing the racist card and saying it's all about the crazy Quebecois. Apparently, your ignorance is not only limited to hockey. Canadiens fans are making noise about this issue because they actually care about their team and follow the games. I feel sorry for the teams who don't have fan support and yet Bettman still insists on keeping those arenas open. Because he loves hockey? Yeah, must be!$! By the way, Canadiens fans are not only limited to Quebec. I don't 'fight' for those other injuries because I don't watch those games. I don't spend 24 hours watching NHL games. And to the guy who was mentioning that Saku Koivu hurt some guy and nothing happened, well, Saku Koivu also almost got his eye taken out in a playoff game and there was clearly blood and he was out for the season, and nothing really happened there either. Yes, accidents happen. But the Chara hit was despicable and maybe you don't understand the laws of physics, but raising an elbow to someone's head is not usually a natural movement. So apparently, we're only going to pay attention when somebody dies because cracking your neck isn't close enough. Hey, what if it's when it happens to some kid? Hey, what if it's your kid? Just part of the game, right?

jason
said
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also i like to point out to all those that think it was a bad hit and that chara did it deliberately because you can see it in a replay remember all we can slow it down and look at it over and over and say he thought about what he was doing when infact real time of the hit was 2 seconds or less and with the speed of the game and reaction to the play i am sure he didnt have time to think where he was or how he could injure max with the post

Donny W
said
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I just don't see how all the blame can be put on Chara. Pacioretty decided to try to race by a skilled, giant defenceman at top speed in a narrow lane along the boards. Chara pushed him into the boards to throw him off balance so he wouldn't get by. This happens all the time in hockey. Chara can't just let him go by because the stanchion is there. Also, the stanchion was straight ahead of Pacioretty as he skated at full speed toward it. so he should have seen it.

jason
said
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all this hype is coming from the fact that headshots are a big deal and the nhl has to eliminate it. with that being said if this hit happened 10 years ago all this hype wouldnt be there and we would all just be feeling for the guy for the injury he got and not be thinking that chara should be suspended and criminal charges brought up. its just the design of the glass around the rink that is at fault here cause once a player is in motion to finish a check then it is hard to stop till you are done it. is this the first player to go down from it? No it isnt but we will be hearing about this one for a long time. get rid of the instagating rule and you will see all these dirty shots that are actually happenning (chara's not being 1 of them)go away. the only thing that was ugly about the hit was where it happened so i feel for max and hope he has a full recovery and returns to hockey but seriously all look at this as a unfortunate accedent

More-or-less
said
0 0

If Chara claims he did not do this on purpose, he is simply lying. He is a foot taller than anyone else in the NHL and should be able clearly to see where he is about to finish his check. Pictures in the papers clearly show his hand on Pacioretty's head pushing him into the glass support, clearly an intent to injure. At what point does the league do something? Does someone actually have to be killed? Mr Pacioretty, if you cannot get fair resolution with the brain-dead league officials and owners level, when you are well enough, finish it off in civil court. Chara has got to be loaded

Play it right
said
0 0

I think there are a lot of questions on the hit, it may of been clean but how did Chara's glove end up on the back of Patch's head as it connected? Chara also is a lefty so that is his stronger arm, the one he has more control over. Consider the 7" height difference, there was intent to injure. Had there not been anything between Patch and Chara earlier, had there not been the 4 goal lead, had it been another player that Chara hit, things might look different but in my mind, Chara is a liar saying he didn't mean to injure Pacioretty. Chara is probably the kind of guy that will feel no remorse but I hope he has many sleepless nights knowing he almost killed someone.
As we fans all stand by, the GM meeting will take place in Boca Raton, no less, and nothing AGAIN will be done.
Bettman needs to step in and tell Murphy he called it wrong.
Chara needs at least a season and playoff suspension.

Brian
said
0 0

Is it coincidence that Air Canada's head office is in Montreal?

Kevin Hay
said
0 0

I can't believe that the NHL has done nothing over this blatently willingness to cause bodily injury. I don't know how they could say it was a routine check. CLEARILY what i saw (and I don't know how anyone would disagree) was Chara pushing the young man's head into the oncoming barrier. The WORST show of sportsmanship i have EVER seen. Boston you should be ashamed

Hang em' high
said
0 0

Chara is Tall enough.
He could easily see and knew what
he was doing.

I think a criminal charge would set a good precidence.

Long overdue for the NHL to make changes !

Tim Adams, ON
said
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The failure of the owners to change the design of boards and glass partitions is far more to blame for the lateet injury in the NHL Cadano Chara. Don Chara will have similar replays of supposed "accidents" involving old-fashioned arena layouts! Can anyone else see the similarity between the olympic accident that killed the skeleton racer because of poor design???? The Police should be investigating the owners of the arena for poor design and failure to insure the safety of players!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andrew
said
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So many posts saying it's a clean it???? When you have two hands behind someone's head and push it into the glass (turnbuckle) it's a head shot. Other side of the ice, when the puck isn't there? Clean hit? Jesus. I've never seen such misguided comments from those who obviousl don't know what shape a puck is. Unbelievable, really...

Gerald
said
0 0

I'm glad that finally someone, not the NHL, is actually taking some action before this craziness kiils someone.

Andrew
said
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Not only was that clearly intentional. He literally drove his head into the turnbuckle. I'm absolutely shocked that folks at TSN refuse to acknowledge that. I can't believe that these so called hockey experts refuse to say out loud what is clearly visible, both at normal speed and slow motion. It's clear. There is no basis for anyone to say otherwise. The question here should be 1. who is Chara? I mean, is there something beyind closed doors than none of us know about? Secondly, how many abject failures need to ignored by the so called commisioner of this league efore he's ousted? Bettman is a joke. A really, really bad "Andrew-Dice-Clay" joke. He obviously doesn't care for the players, nor does he even consider the integrity of the game one iota. Phoenix is a glaring example of that. It's all about his pride and his sense of control. Air Canada and Tim Horton's have it right. Take $$$ from the table and then maybe the suits can finally make a sound decision. This is the worst call the league has ever made and while I love hockey, I hope this spells the end of the league, so poor guys like Max can pursue something else and live a normal live.

Jp
said
0 0

1. If you bring back the goons .All this cheap crap will be mostly eliminated.Thier are no enforcers policeing the games.A player can go out and do what ever he wants with no retribution.
2.Get rid of the instigator rule.
3.Bring back clutch and hold hockey.Make the super stars work for thier pay check.This will slow the game down a bit.

Hockey has changed to the point where it s all about what the super stars can do.All about show casing the super stars.We had great hockey plays in the 70s,80s and 90S.Why does hockey need to be different in the year 2000.Was it done to make it more appealing to the Americans and the big television networks.Maybe all these problems lay on Bettmans head for all the stupid rule changes.We have Americanized hockey years ago.Now look what we have to watch.I don t thing Chara would be the way he is if Probert or Domi were still skating around the rink.

Dave
said
0 0

First of all - good for Air Canada. I never thought that I would cheer for them after they failed to honour all my accumulated Air Miles.

I read some comments and have to come to the conclision that hockey is the dumbest sport going and fans are two bricks short of a load.

They mention car racing as being dangerous - yes, but everything is being done to prevent injury etc.

Hockey is so dumb, they have to consider 'head shots' Duh!!!

If one more announcer says after a player is taken off the ice on a stretcher that "it was a clean hit", then it is time to open up the doors to the fummy farm.

Wait til a player wakes up dead some morning and then see all the comments.

I am waiting for other sponsors to jump on the band wagon.

T
said
0 0

Everyone is hell bent on intent but the fact is that he was negligent in his actions even if he did not mean them. I don't think it was a really dirty play in that Chara was trying to break his neck but he definitely wanted to finish his check. I think that for the NHL, a suspension should have been given out even if only for a couple games so that a message was sent. That message being that players are responsible for their actions; Pacioretty is already paying the price by not letting up on the play, with a concussion and a broken neck. I think that it would have served the league better to at least maintain some of their dignity by sacrificing Chara for 2 games.

Bill A
said
0 0

It IS all about $$$. And the NHL does not want to be held liable for the poor design of the glass. If they can deflect the issue, they dodge the bullet again and keep their dollars. Like most are saying, if it happened ANYWHERE else on the ice, he would have be sandwiched in and just gone down. The NHL is trying to avoid liability.

Reener
said
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@derek - you are absolutely right. Air Canada is based in Montreal, I wouldn't think they would care otherwise. Personally I never associate Air Canada with the NHL, other than the Air Canada Centre, which isn't just about the NHL. Do they actually have signs on the boards? Never noticed, only really see Tim Hortons and Molson.

Joe Spumolio
said
0 0

I watched CTV News At Noon which showed the hit 4 or 5 times, real time and slo mo. It was pretty obvious to me that Chara knew exactly where he was and deliberately drove Pacioretty's head into the abutment at the end of the bench. Sorry but anyone who denies that is either blind or an idiot or maybe just a blind idiot. Chara ought to have known where he was. Was this his first time on the ice? All that needs to be proven in a negligence charge is what a reasonable person ought to have known would happen. In this case, even a cement head like Chara ought to have known what would happen and is therefore guilty of negligence. What remains to be seen is if the police and courts in Quebec have the cojones to stand up to the NHL and the players union.

angelo
said
0 0

look this is starting to get stupid i am a habs fan and i dont think that chara meant to hurt him .he gave a clean check it just happen to be at the wrong spot on the ice i dont think if we had hit a boston player that they would be crying wolf.the police should stay out of the game or it will destroy i wounderful game of hockey, i also think that the one at fauld are the dummies at the nhl because don cherry and been talking about this for years.maybe the should fire that dummy that runs the nhl and replace him with don cherry.

mike fradette
said
0 0

I watched that part of the game many times and I feel it was a clean check without diliberate intentions to ram him into the post. When it happened, both players were at least 6' before the post and on angle hard to see at the speed and action they were in. As for Air Canada's stand, they should at least take awhile before speaking and let the system do its roll to avaluate the incident before making an amatures judgement, after all, this is HOCKEY, our sport and its well regulated.

James
said
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Only an idiot who has never played this game would think it was anything but intentional. Just watch the replay and it is obvious that Chara gives Max an extra push with his left hand. Chara could have walked away from the check without giving him that extra shove.As for Bettmann he really has a certain mindset ... 1) he doesnt give a damn for Canadian teams...no money in it. 2) he likes goon hockey...more goons tune in and better ratings. 3) he doesnt want Canadian teams in the playoffs...again its about money.Well keep going Gary soon all the good players will be gone and it will be a total goon league like you want. Then you can take your NHL and shove it up your sweet little kosher azz.

jwicei
said
0 0

continuous all around the arenas would have prevented this and would also stop the bench clearing for teams fighting.the supposed check was more of a push and both players appear to be off balance

Elizabeth
said
0 0

I support Air Canada, it's long past time to get back to the sport of the game, I liked it before when it'd seem as so many others also once enjoyed tuning in for...for the sport of it, not for who's going bash who this time, start the fight, throw the first punch. The elbow punch in the head is obvious in the video. This body-check...the life-threatening injury incurred ought to be owned by the one who inflicted it. Life-threatening...because it's dramatically changed the life of another, a life and Family now in jeopardy, a complete shift in thought and perception. He who did this by no stretch of the imagination should be off the hook, out there to do it again.

P. MacIntosh
said
0 0

Any fool can see that Chara's hit was intentional. If this had happened anywhere else,Chara would be sitting in a jail cell! He should be suspended indefinitely just as long as the player he has injured is out of the game. He should also receive a huge fine and be criminally charged. Perhaps he would have time to ponder his actions while sitting in a court room. Good for Air Canada. Someone has to take a stand before the game is totally ruined. Hockey already has a bad reputation..this situation exemplifies why. Shame on you Chara! Shame on the NHL if they sit idly by without punishing this man.

keith
said
0 0

Ruth you're wrong, sidney crosby is out with a concussion from two hitsm to the head, neither of those hits resulted in suspensions, so people the league does not look at who got hurt before they make a decision, Chara did nothing wrong, this has happened before and will happen again if they don't make that area of the boards safer, maybe a slight curve in the glass so the head can glide with the glass instead of a dead stop might help a little.

Deanna
said
0 0

Oh, one more thing....everyone's sending kudos to Air Canada...really? Why haven't they threatened to do this sooner? How many players have been hurt prior? I find it interesting that their head office just happens to be in Montreal.....coincidence....I think not. We should do the same...if Air Canada wants to pull their sponsorship.....we'll do the same then next time they need a bail out..

scott
said
0 0

I believe that there is an overreaction based on the injury, not on the direct cause of the injury. It was a horrible injury caused by a design flaw in hockey arenas. If anyone with a sound mind can see, it is a perfectly fair check into a very dangerous area of the glass. There should be no penalties involved. The NHL should have no open areas of glass around the rinks.

don
said
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Can you imagine the uproar in Quebec if Pacioretty was a Quebecois.

sherri
said
0 0

Hi I feel hockey is not the same as it was years ago. They fight alote and hockey players are gettiing hurt more often. They should try and stop this before someone dies on the ice. Thank you S.D.

robin hood
said
0 0

I�m not blind Chara had his arm up directing the hit causing Max Pacioretty head to slam into the post. Your excuses including that of the arena holds no water with me. If the configuration of the wrap around the rink is such an issue you would have thought it would have been an issue all along and steps would have been taken to correct the problem long before this. I say not only did opportunity present itself it was acted upon, quite effectively addressing any grudge Chara may have harbored. I wouldn�t rule out supported or even encouragement! The NHL needs to have their eyes checked if they�re unable to clearly read Chara body language. The hit may have happened quickly but the skate he had beside him took some time. I offer up Chara had hoped the cameras were following the puck. When you have any organization that answers only to itself you open up a world of hurt that will never affect the self-policing! Making up the rules as you go along requires no checks or balances! Clearly the NHL is a money machine and the investors will not put up with any interfering force that will interrupt what that machine was designed to do. The more blood thirsty you are the better they like it resulting in effectively throwing out all rulesThe fans themselves aren�t helping they�re only succeeding in fueling the controversy, if you oppose this then speak up! Louder I can�t hear you! When you like� get off on the brutality of a �sport� and clearly too many of us have not evolved in our �sense of fair play� have again effectively removed sportsmanship� from sport. Our world is all about the win and money now! How sad of a commentary is that? C�mere kid; ever see a lion up close? However this world got off track it is up to us to fix it! That won�t happen with more laws or new rules for the simple reason they�re neither enforced nor followed, and they never will be when our motto is �winning at all cost�! I blame those who hold and abuse their power after all they�re the ones who create the problems and inflict them on us. They teach us to cheat, lie, steal for mere survival. Simple stupidity gets us locked up while crime is rewarded for the criminals at heart. Check it out this world is falling apart due to their mismanagement and corruption! Otherwise it�s just the �blind leading the blind and both shall fall into the ditch� scenario! If I had a time machine I�d sent you all back to Rome and the coliseum and you can all happily rot in hell there! I neither like nor wish for my children to live in this world! So stuff it NHL and do what is right! For you to have part and you do have part in a young man�s plight namely �Max Pacioretty� for pure entertainment of the blood thirty! Clearly I�m on the side of the clear clean sport played with skill!

Deanna
said
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Okay, I don't condone intentional head shots, or intent to do physical harm.......however, I saw the same video everyone else has and Chara made his hit before the glass....there was never intent on Chara's part. He's a big guy....if people want something done, then say anyone 7'0 ft is not allowed to play hockey. If you intentionally drive someone into the boards then by all means suspend away....but things happen in physical sports. In order to have no injury, you'd need to take the "physical" out of physical sports. Make hockey a no contact sport.....problem solved......And just a note to say, Montreal asking for a criminal investigation into the hit is ridiculous and a waste police time and resources....funny when their players do it....you don't hear anything......

Mike
said
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It was not a "clean" hit....Chara was penalized for it.These guys know exactly where they are on the ice at all times period...he meant to hit him where he did. Did he think the results would be what they are...or did he even think?

Marcia, Moncton
said
0 0

Wow. Just wow. Apparently the police in Quebec have nothing better to do than waste tax payer money on an investigation that need not happen? One, the hit was legal and called appropriately. Unpleasant, perhaps, but does not justify the uproar it has caused. Aren't there biker gangs and organized crime organizations toward which these dollars are better directed?

Rob
said
0 0

I think the rink is badly designed...if there was glass there we wouldn't even be talking about this.Don't get me wrong, there are "some" players that are goons but I'm pretty sure Chara didn't go out of his way to take out a young player and permanently end his Hockey career...

Debbie Hill
said
0 0

It's an easy fix. Don't let Chara come back (without pay) until Pacioretty comes back. It may stop the dirty hits.

Matt
said
0 0

My son and daughter are playing, running side by side trying to 'win'. My boy goes head first into a tree at full speed. It hurt, he had a realy nice bump on his head, concusion. Now by your logic the police should charge my daughter for causing the accident. You people and anti sports fans need to give YOUR head a really good shake. No on wants to get hurt, but everyone does, and people do ever day! Its sad, but ask yourself this, does the victim regret being hurt doing what he loved and probably spent a life time working towards starting at 5! Most of you havent committeed to anything your entire lives, compared to what a NHL player puts into there career. 90% of the comments on this story and whinny cry baby lifes not fair comments. Dont like hits, dont watch, dont life violence, go watch tree house.

Laura
said
0 0

I have been watching hockey for ten years now, and am from Montreal, in Ottawa temporarily. Since I began following the Habs, it is without a doubt that Chara has always been labeled a "goon", he is only on the team to start fights and hurt other players intentionally. A check or a hit is one thing, what Chara does, and did in this case is another. It was intentional. He is much bigger than the other players and knows his strength. He should know his limits. There should be more of an investigation and charges.

Marc
said
0 0

This isn't about hockey at all, nor is it about Canadiens fans, nor Montrealers. This is about a criminal offense. I would apply the law at its fullest. It is like the ancient roman games when they sent out slaves to fight/die for amusement. Except the slaves in this case get paid way too much for skating after a flattened ball on ice. Boxing the rules are clear-you are going to get it, I don't think that in hockey there are any rules that says you will be hit even when you don't have a puck, and even when you are far from the goals. The fighting is emotional bullshit on ice.

In football there is direct physical contact that may make the players go crazy with anger, and yet there is no fighting.

Hockey players have way too many privileges.

Tron
said
0 0

@JOE , you talk about Canadian fans complaining and whining,.. Did you read the article and see Pacioretty's comment? He's the one who's whining saying hes disgusted Chara's not suspended and wants criminal charges pressed,.. typical American player.

Margaret
said
0 0

I don't think that Chara did it on purpose. He is not that type of a player.

Robin
said
0 0

Well now does this mean it is open season in any city where a hit in hockey will be investigated by the police .Yes it was a bad hit and there have been worse hits that have not had any consequences or investigation.So why is Montreal doing this.But remember Montreal what goes around comes around .When you play in my city and i don,t like a hit is it all right for me to holler for the police to investigate..

Cez
said
0 0

Unfortunately Pacioretty was injured on this play, but I think from watching it that Chara was not trying to injure him. The way I see it, Pacioretty put himself in a bad spot on the ice and was angled off cleanly. Same exact hit on the other side of the ice.. we wouldnt be talking about it. The NHL needs to consider redesigning this area, and players need to be more aware. Alot of time these NHL'ers forgot they play a contact sport and put themselves in vunerable positions for injury.

Screwy Louis!! (Dionne)
said
0 0

There are NO grounds for prosecution or a conviction and would they dare indict the NHL as well? This is just to appease irrational Quebecois sports fans who in the end foot the bill through their taxes.

Sacha Gagnon
said
0 0

The problem is the arena but Chara was beat by the speed so he push him and thats the story. Chara knows were it was on the ice and he push his head with is arm so i think
he know what he was doing.

I was a revenge for me

Beav
said
0 0

The NHL has become a meatball league...akin to WWF.

Watch the Olympics or World Juiors for real hockey.

Good for AC, maybe the league will wake up and take the goons/fighting/intimidation out for good!

Chuck
said
0 0

I think Chara should receive a major suspencion and be kicked out for the rest of the season for that hit on Pacioretty. If you watch the video closely, you can see Chara look up to see where they were just before he hit Pacioretty, he clearly knew where he was on the ice before he hit him and he clearly seen the the glass particion there and could have avoided hitting Pacioretty that way. Chara is nothing but a GOON on the ice and he should have to face the consequences for his actions. This has nothing to do with Pacioretty being a Montreal Canadian, I'm not a Canadians fan, it has to do with a player commiting a criminal offence on the ice, and i hope the Quebec police charge him. I've been a hockey fan all my life and I don't normally agree with police getting involved in what happens on the rink, but somebody has to stop people like Chara from commiting this kind of act again. The best thing the NHL could do right now is remove those 2 peices of glass between the players benches, then this type of hit won't be happening in that location again, either that or put glass all the way around the rink so there is no partitions for players to hit.

good morning
said
0 0

I am on the side of Air Canada in there concern. You have to care about, and become cognizant of, not hurting another person, or the game is unfit. -- Good for you Air Canada. To tell you the truth I was critical of what happened at the University of Waterloo (i think it was) against one person who used steroids on a sports team and the whole team was under some type of suspension, but maybe creating consequences - on the context - in sports, instead of an individual who crosses a line, is what will "work".

Mike S
said
0 0

From what I saw was a clean body check into the boards. The problem was that the design of the rink put a steel post right against the inside of the boards. The player was not at fault here. I wonder if Louis Dionne would have been as quick to ask for a police investiagation if it had been a Boston Bruins player hurt by a Montreal player??

Janet
said
0 0

Way to go Air Canada. My faith in you has been renewed. Of course a broken neck should be taken seriously, money should not take priority over human life. Safety should be a priority. . If hockey players are good athlettes than they should be concentrating on putting the puck in the net rather than injuring each other. To think that some fans and the NHL are not taking this seriously is pathetic.

Debbie
said
0 0

Ever since a Peewee-aged youth broke my son's arm in two places with a "legitimate check" in a minor league hockey arena, and then, did not enquire about, nor apologize for my son's injury, I have had zero respect for a game that legitimizes violent behaviour and absolves the perpetrators of violence from any moral or legal responsibility for what they have done. Skilled hockey is beautiful to witness until the basest elements of our human nature bloody its dazzle....Sidney Crosby's injury, and this most recent one to Pacioritty, not to mention the horror of so many others, are disgusting and repugnant examples of the "legitimized violence" in professional sports.Even more repugnant is the likelihood that this kind of base behaviour is actually a boon to business. I'm with Air Canada. Pull support until this sport morphs back into what it is at its best.

GHW
said
0 0

Grow up you knuckle dragging jocks. I think Hockey would be better without the violence. Anytime I see a couple guys pounding at each others faces, it makes me wonder what their family life it like, how they treat their kids, their wives. Jocks can so often be prejudice self centered bullies. I try to avoid them when ever I can but school kids don�t have that luxury.

daveyboy
said
0 0

if this happened to any other team we wouldn't be having this conversation'.

Eat Me Out West
said
0 0

Air Canada is threatening to pull out it's corporate sponsorship of the Montreal Canadiens following the Chara hit. Why stop there? They should do all of the taxpayers a favor and pull out of the air travel industry as well..............

BA
said
0 0

The amount of dangerous hitting and fighting in this game has gone too far, all in the efforts to drum-up more fans south of the border who really could care less about the game, and maybe hold onto the fans in Canada who will never see the cup again.

There are way too many childish neanderthals on the ice these days who lack any real skills, other than inflicting damage on another player. It's sad for some of the smaller guys with real talent who worry about becoming paralyzed or worse when taking a hit from one of these turds.

jennywren
said
0 0

Having watched Chara since he came to Canadatoplay for the Prince George Cougars I can say that Chara is NOT a goon. He has neverbeen known to be one.

Ernest Kovosi
said
0 0

Although the hit resulted in a serious injury to a player, it is the same play that is made in every game every night in the NHL. The unfortunate thing is the rink was poorly designed and the glass between the benches should not be like that. There should be glass or plexiglass tapered off on a 45 degree angle so the player would slide off and not stop suddenly. This is just a little suggestion to the Air Canada Centre engineers. As to the statement that Air Canada made that they don't want to be associated "with sports events which could lead to serious and irresponsible accidents" there is no sport in the world that there isn't a "chance of serious injury".

Donna Maggiore
said
0 0

I am sorry to say but it is hockey and it is a dangerous sport, the hit looked clean and Chara is not a nasty player and has been on the ice to see two of his teams taken off on stretchers. It was an unfortunate accident because of where it took place. My heart breaks for both players Max who is hurt and for Chara because as I said before he is not a dirty player and god knows the NHL has several dirty players out there.

Susan Fairbairn
said
0 0

From what I could see on the tape of the play, Chara's hand was up at the level of the injured player's head when the Canadien player went into that stanchion. The excuses that "fighting is part of the game" and "hockey is a rough sport" are just that - excuses. There are other sports that are rough contact sports and you don't see the level of violence that you see in the NHL. If that hit had taken place on the street, you better believe that that Boston player would be sitting in a jail cell right now charged with assault.

Anna from Calgary
said
0 0

My son (who plays minor hockey) say that everyone knows exactly where the stanchions are, especially NHL players. I think these guys are fully aware of them. Each year of a few playes get caught on them - I guess they forget where they are? The NHL has got to change it stance on hits. The younger hockey players are watching. This year, the first game of the season, my son's friend's team had 4- 5 boys taken off with concussions! Most were minor (a few games missed). The coach called the game before it was done because he feared for the safety of his players. He got suspended! This is totally unacceptable.I was born in Montreal and loved watching the Montreal Canadians play in the day when most did not wear helmets. It was a game of finess, speed and talent. I don't remember cringing at hits, concussions or broken vertebrae. I don't enjoy watching anymore.

Watch the tape!
said
0 0

If you watch closely, Chara could have hit him a lot sooner and been just as effective.

Instead, he waited for Max to get to the partition until he started his check. That was malicious intent and it's too bad that the NHL didn't see it, cuz the Police will.

Who cares about 'certain' NHL sponsors anyway... does that mean we can go back to calling it Maple Leaf Gardens?

Ron J.
said
0 0

This prosecutor is completely out of line. If the exact same hit was delivered, but resulted in no injury, then no one would care. Same action, but different result. Prosecutors should know better. In criminal law, you should be less interested in penalizing the result. His action does not warrant a criminal investigation. People are upset because of the result, but the result is because of the poorly-constructed glass. Anywhere else on the ice, this same hit would result in nothing.

chuck
said
0 0

From the overhead view, it looks like Chara barely touched him before he hit the stanchion. And further, it seemed that Chara might have misjudged the speed that Pacioretty had, thinking the "push" would just put him into the bench not the stanchion... and the "push" didn't even look like a push to me, looks like Chara was sluffing Pacioretty off himself if anything... and nowhere can I see Chara's hand/arm touch Pacioretty's head... definately not a head shot...

face it, the "check" in itself was clean, the "play" obviously was illegal hence the interference penalty. Chara wears the "C" for a reason, he's not a goon!

And if Chara really wanted to hurt him, look at the difference in size, he could crush him anywhere on the ice, doesn't need the stanchion...

alexander
said
0 0

when a team singles out a specific player on a team in this case the last meeting 4 bean counters in one shift tried to pick fight with #76 PK Subban. this time some one got hurt really bad. and the league didnt think it warranted a suspension or fine. this has really gone to far. the bruins truely are neanderthals with sasquatch leading the head hunting crew. whats next a player getting killed. colin campbells little boy play gor the headhunters. so passed it to another (i couldnt care less) sr. vice president. sasquatch had better run hide your looking to be charged with a crime. it was plain to see you deliberetly shoved patches head directly into the stantion i hope they fry you sasquatch.hockey operations droped the ball big time.

Peter
said
0 0

I'm not fond of Air Canada, I don't believe the service or attitude of staff is ver good. However, I would fly with them if they brought about change in the NHL. This is no longer sport.

RAWg
said
0 0

Chara did nothing to intentionally injure the player. It's time to stop whining about suspensions and identify that the only real issue is the design of the glass supports and that in every NHL arena that is a location where this sort of injusry could happen again. Leave Chara alone....he did nothing wrong

Peter
said
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I have drunk my last Molson and attended my last NHL game. Enough of desensitizing children. There is more to life than making big bucks. Brain damage and loss of income aren't negotiable in the world that used to be Canada.

Mac
said
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geeze people, why don't we just slap a lawsuit on the arena owners for allowing a design flaw that could kill a player on a play that happens all over the ice.. since you're all bent on getting blood.

calm down already.

Ian Brown
said
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The NHL should have at least said they would look into padding the partition so further accidents like this would never occur...

It's up to the league to ensure the safety of their players.

Mike
said
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Typical political posturing by all parties.
Quebec idiots!!!!! The emergeny lines were overburdened by the number of complaints to police???? What other province in the country would that happen in? If it was a Habs player delivering the blow this entire thing would be a non-issue. Man, I get sick of the bleeding hearts.

Air Canada has a right to say & do as they please, being a sponsor and all, but the minister of sport?? Go back in your hole. Just another way to get your name in the press and secure some francophone votes. The government has no place in pro sports.

The hit, as bad as it was, has happened countless times in the history of hockey and, more often than not, were celebrated by all. When did we become such wussies???
All the best to the family and wishes of a speedy recovery but, I'm with the league on this one. A very, very unfortunate incident.

Quebecois' siege mentality
said
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This is TOTALLY absurd on the part of Quebec officials. These Quebecois need to get their emotions and hyper active imaginations under control and in perspective. This is a sport where people do get hurt occasionally and sometimes very injured. Chara did not go out with the intention to injure Patch and that should be obvious to all who are not in denial. To suggest criminal activity is to call into question the competency of Quebec officials and sports fans and how they live a double standard as their own players have caused injury to players from other jurisdictions without calls for criminal charges. This brings back memories of the irrational riots and damage in the streets of Montreal following the Maurice Richard incident. Quebec sports fans are acting as if they are under some kind of siege by an enemy....it's just a game folks relax.

Hockey-Don
said
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Yep, it is now time for the home team to demand charges be made anytime one of their favourites gets hit, or maybe even spoke harshly to. Bullying Charges need to be made. Perhaps it is time the players be removed from this dangerous sport and be replaced with Lawyers wielding briefcases firing subpoenas at each other. That would be safe and entertaining, right? As for Air God, maybe they should be facing kidnapping charges when they sit out on the Tarmac not going anywhere (like back to the terminal) when there is a couple of hours wait to take off.

Ben
said
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Hockey is not like it use to be. Yes there was past history of bad hits. Yes hockey went on. But something should've been done back then too. The game is too fast and the players are too big now to ignore this. The NHL has to do something to control the game before it's too late.

I love hockey but it's not machines who are playing the game for you and me...they are human beings and they break.

dan ottawa
said
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I have not read any comments on design flaws in NHL rinks,I believe angled or curved glass with proper padding would have reduced the chance of severe injury. this is not the first time a player has been injured when hitting these blunt corners.I believe this accident and future injuries could be avoided with simple design changes.

Nathan Fry
said
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You mean they are emotional about hockey in Quebec? Since when?

Dave
said
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joe
said
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Jason from Calgary - You are absolutely correct! What is with these Canadien fans dont any of them actually play hockey??? They should know this instead they just see that their player is hurt and as usual make a big stink out of it. I thought these Canadien fans were suppose to be educated hockey fans! Chara could hurt alot of people and if he really wanted to he could do it at anytime, this was purely a hockey play and these Canadien fans that are crying about it really look foolish and as if they never played the game - it was the stanchion and Paciorettys own momentum that caused the injury not Chara who barely hit him - fact is Paciorretty (who hopefully gets better) should know this and needs to take some responsibility also - he know where the stanchion is albeit a very poor design.

Maria l
said
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@ everyone who thinks it was illegal hit... just cause its montreal and 99% of these post's are a waste of bandwidth.. just face it if it was any other team you wouldn't be jumping on the bandwagon. it was a clean hit you just choose to see it your own way.. Sidney is out too with career ending injuring for a hit why you not after that guy, and your crying about someone who is new and knows what the games about.. stopping hits in the NHL would just make the sport boring to watch if you can't handle watching it.. watch curling or some other non contact sport...nuff said!!!

MM
said
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Chara didn't plan on hurting this guy. If ghe had hit him a couple of seconds later or earlier he would have just hit the boards. The league should be looking at improving the safety on the ice by not having ends of glass that could be hit. They need to come up with a solution for the ice rinks. It was an accident, end of story. Get over it Hab fans.

Rob Alberta
said
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According to Ignatiff it was Harpers fault, he should of known better not to put that glasss support there.

Mike in ON
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I applaud Air Canada for taking a stand, and not just blindly sending in cheques to get their name plastered on the boards. I think the problem here is multi-layered: firstly, Gary Bettman simply isn't a 'hockey guy.' I'd be surprised if he even knows how to skate. All he's concerned about is profit, not the game itself. Secondly, the game of hockey has become incredibly fast, to the point that having 'hockey skills' is no longer enough; you have to be aware that your life is in danger every second you're on the ice; just ask folks like Lindros, whose career (and no, I'm not even a fan of his) was cut short because of too many concussions. Finally, we have the issue of Chara himself. I liken this to learning how to parallel park a car in a residential neighbourhood, but on your driving test, you're asked to do it behind a tractor-trailer. When a guy is THAT huge, opponents are going to get hurt, plain and simple. I honestly don't know how you change the rules to apply to 'the biggest and strongest,' without being unfair to them. Players with that kind of size aren't necessarily doing anything different than any other player, but the simple difference in size makes a normal-looking play, life-threatening.

Entertaining... Not
said
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Good for Air Canada and Shame on the League!Unless things change, I am tuning out! Watching people getting viciously hit and injured is not entertaining. In a past life, Chara would have been a Roman Gladiator! Too bad we can't send him back in time to a different era where he belongs!

Sherry
said
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The main point is that these million dollar players are there because they know how to play hockey - sometimes accidents happen but when a feud starts between players and people get hurt - and possibly have an end to their career, then SOMETHING should be done - if more suspensions with money lost to the players happended - no matter who the player is, then they may think twice about this nonense in the future and play hockey - as they are getting paid to do. It might also show young up-coming players that some things in hockey are just plain wrong and if you want to make the big bucks - you play like a professional. The league should have been the one to do something but it "dropped the puck" on this and went no where. Many are saying - but what about this time and what about that time - IF it had of been stopped way back when with good penalties against the players, then many careers could have been saved. You can't go back - but you sure as hell can go forward - professionally!

Sherry
said
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Ruth
said
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Too bad Pacioretti's name wasn't Sid Crosby. Then there would be a suspension. The NHL is dispicable.

Cam
said
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What a waste of Time. Maybe Air Canada should worry about running there own company rather than poking there nose into the NHL.

Paul
said
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I am not a Habs fan. In fact, I grew up cheering for the Bruins. That said, I find the NHL and it's cronies are completely misguided in how they are handling this. We hear from them that they want to go after 'head hunters' yet they see this hit and say " well, it's part of the game". Bull crap. Even if they feel that it's an unfortunate accident, the optics stink. Chara should have got a minimum 2 games. And I see that the NHLPA is doing jack squat in protecting their players livelihood but going crazy protecting their purpetrators. What a joke.

George
said
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It is time the Coaches, Managers, Owners and others who profit from the game are fined as well as the offending player. It is ridiculous to allow this type of behaviour in the game. The only hockey I care to watch any more is Olympic Hockey....this bullying approach to a wonderful game would not be tolerated in the Olympics, and have you noticed how much faster and better the game is played at that level.

glenn
said
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first crosbie, then this, then more contravecy.
this has been going on for years. nothing will chang.e
looked like a good hit to me. just an accident he was near the edge of the board.
be glad he did break his neck and die.

NHL Fan
said
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Hey Air Canada, go pull your sponsorship, we don't care!! Your industry is already hurting!! Nobody want to fly on your poor quality, over priced flights, that when you have some sort of issue with the airline company, they spin you in a million directions to get any sort of resolve!!! From now on, it's worth taking a flight from the U.S., their flights are WAY cheaper, and if you get some sort of bad service, at least you didn't spend an arm and a leg for your flight anyway!!!Now to the hockey hit...First off most players who claim to have 'a serious' concussion haven't been able to or felt up to, having an interview conducted following a hit of this nature...My guess Mr Pacioretty is not as injured as the rabid Habs would like him to be!! It was a terrible hit to watch, granted, but lets look at the design of the rink. I have seen more than one hit in this area of the rink, most times the player is okay!! I recall one hit in the late seventies, and I believe it was in Buffalo, where the Sabre player was hurt. The NHL needs to get address this area for health and safety concerns. While they're at it, why is there a dasher around the boards?? The dasher has also caused a number of head injuries over the years. Before everyone goes pointing the finger at Mr Chara look at a lot of aspects of the game, the rink and the media for creating all this hype. A news station here in Toronto (680) was already saying "there will have to be pay back when these two teams play again later this month". The media feeds this fire!! The NHL exects have strived for a faster, hard hitting game for years, and everyone still tunes in, and will continue to tune in. The league continues to bury their head in the sand regarding the 'armour' that these guys wear. If a guys didn't have a body of armour on for equipment, perhaps he would feel invincible when delivering a hit!!THIS DOES NOT LAY ON ZDENO CHARA'S SHOULDERS ONLY....As for the rabid Montreal Canadien fans who have in the past burned cars, started riots, booed national anthems andnow, jammed the phone lines with complaints, get over it!! People with REAL emergencies are trying to call the police. For ONCE, put your selfish attitude/agenda/egos aside, and get a freakin' life!!!

Muggsy
said
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I think it's time that sponsors of ALL major sports took a stand on "unnecessary violence" and "poor sportsmanship' in ALL sports. Money seems to be the only "language" that Professional sports teams understand. If they don't get the sponsorship, they can't function. Period. I also think it's time that fans "voted with their feet and their wallets". I have not attended a hockey game in years, because I do NOT condone the "legalized violence on skates".I think that the agressor in this instance most definitely needs at least a suspension for the rest of the season, he and his team both deserve a hefty fine, (with THAT money going into a trust fund to help the injured player recover/rehabilitate from his injury), and the league needs to serve notice to ALL franchises that Professional Hockey needs to "cleam up it's act and stop the violence".

Pat
said
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There is nothing sporty about hockey. Just a bunch of goons who can skate fast and see who can get the hardest hit on the other guy. I think Bettman has been hit in head one to many times. He needs to go. Thumbs up to Air Canada.

Dean
said
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Well I've watched the video several times. It was a good hit, that unfortunately resulted in a injury. Should they fix the stanctions? Absoluety. As for Chara being a goon??? Come one give me a break. Look how tall he is compared to everyone else. If you watch the video at no time does any part of his body make contact with the other players head. I wonder by the majority of comments on here how many people are Canadiens fans. I can put money on it, that if this hit was reversed you wouldn't see a single Montreal Canadian Fan calling the Police to lodge a complaint. What a joke you people are.The only thing that should be fixed here are the stanctions nothing else.

vince in trenton
said
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To all you experts on hockey and the design of an arena......this hit did not result in a suspension so you feel that you have the right to be judge and jury....not going to happen....if you don't like the way hockey is played, don't watch it.....as for shutting down the Bell Centre to fix this problem, you obviously have not watched too many hockey games because every arena in the NHL is designed this way....it started when the NHL desided to put both benches on the same side of the ice several years ago.....but since it is HAB player that was injured following a normal hockey play you want to see Chara hung at center ice....you are no better than the cause you are complaining about.....

Jason Calgary
said
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Two points: I seriously doubt that Chara intentionally tried to put the guy into the stanchion or even knew that it was coming up. The speed they were going and the fact that Chara had rotated from skating backwards to forwards to ride him out, he had maybe a few seconds to realize where he was. But he was watching the player to make sure he doesn't get by him to get a scoring chance (as any good defenceman does), not what was coming up. Second, if anyone should be sued over this event it should be the Montreal Canadians and the owners of the rink. It was their facility that this happened in and that has this stanchion in a bad spot. But the big issue is that these are in every rink in the league. It is a dangerous part of the rink that has seen many players stop at suddenly, but this is the first big career threatening injury. These areas need to change and the teams and the league need to step up to change these designs. But don't blame Chara for this. This was not his fault.

Don
said
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If anybody should be held accountable, it's the venue. Shouldn't there be a complete plexiglass ring around the rink? That corner looked deadly.

Always blaming it on the athletes:

Remember when they called the Nodar Kumaritashvili tragedy, driver error?

Such obvious cases of structural-defects in both cases. Hockey is dangerous, the rink should be built accordingly.

JennyJill
said
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Chara should be off the ice as long as Pacioretty is off the ice.

Rich
said
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The Canadian legal system set a dangerous precedent when it turtled to the NHL rather than laying criminal charges against Todd Bertuzzi in his premeditated attack on Steve Moore. Based on this precedent alone Chara should not be charged. His attack was far less obvious and vicious though the outcome was just as horrendous. The only reason this is such a huge issue is that the victim is not a fringe player like Steve Moore and he plays in such an important Canadian hockey market. Until the NHL gets its head out of its butt and expel from the league idiots like Bertuzzi, regardless if they are elite players, for blatant attempts to end a career, upper echelon player will continue to think that they are untouchable by the league or the law and will show no respect toward other players.

Hanif Chaudhary
said
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If you see the recent history, this is not the first instant. I feel the fighting etc should not be allowed in ice hockey. They should make the game clean and more enjoyable as in the International Hockey. In international hockey such actions are not allowed. There is no other game in which such fights are allowed.

a true fan
said
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If the league wants to fix this issue then all they have to do is add glass in front on the benches. There are many times players hit the glass at the end of the benches. If this hit was on the other side of the ice near the penality boxes then this would not of happen and this would not be an issue. For the hit it was a little late but not to the point of being dirty. I've coached and reffed hockey for 15 years and played for 35 years and see this same hit many times at all levels. It is time to fix the route of the problem and close in the ice surface. players leave the penality box through a door (can't jump the boards) so why can't they do the same in the player's bench. I feel sorry for both players involved.

Bella
said
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Good for Air Canada.

Rob Alberta
said
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Typical Quebec reaction if this would of happened to another Canadian team you wouldn't here a peep from these clowns. What a joke! This was not a head shot, blame the glass support. This has happened before and will continue to happen untill they continue the glass all the way around. You tell people not to drink and drive and they still do so! So there you go!

Doug in Dartmouth
said
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Easy Solution. Any collision, whether intentional or otherwise, that results in a player missing games(s), the player responsible also must sit out a corresponding number of games. Radical? Yes. But think of the impact it would have on the game, the players, coaches ,manager, sponsors.

jb
said
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it was a clean hit, the only reason anyone is making a big deal is because it's a montreal player. Chara has never been suspended and for good reason. What about the crosby hit and savard hit by matt cooke the leagues dirtiest player. nobody stepped up to this extent. It's funny how nobody cares until it's montreal. that's typical when you look at their fans pouring beer all over chara and tim thomas the back up goalie who wasn't even on the ice. Montreal is one of the only arenas in the league that has those turnbuckles in that location, maybe thye should do what most other nhl teams did and take them out of there. ole ole ole ole, looks like it's going to be another short run by the habs in playoffs. one trip to the 3rd round in 18 years, the 70's are over, habs suck and so do their fans

Chara's hit was clean
said
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Nuff'said...... he shouldn't get punished.

Kevin Nabess
said
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Yeh Chara saw the opportunity and went for it. Clearly he knew what he was doing. Anyone who watches hockey can see that as plain as day. Shame on the NHL for turning a blind eye to this one.

Anne
said
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I carefully watched the incident on TV, and there was an extra shove directly heaving him into that wall. This was despicable and that hockey player should be thrown out for the rest of the season. Time for the NHL to clean up its act.

Niagara George
said
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Chara knew exactly where he was on the ice. He knew the stanchion was coming. Why do you think he delayed the hit as long as he did? This was a criminal offence. The NHL has missed the obvious again. They have lost more fans. Now it is time for the sponsors to start to complain. These idiots need some pressure that will affect their over-stuffed pockets.

Jon
said
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Right on Gerard! The league or rink should be held accountable ... whatever happened to that teenage girl who was killed by a puck flying into the stands? Was it hushed up?Anyway, the NHL should either make it illegal for someone to body check over the open board area (in which case, then Chara should have had to sit out as long as his injured victim should ... possibly for a carreer!), or the league should fix the end of open board areas to have a sprawling sort of up-sloping scoop for players to land in/on so that no head injuries can occur again .... it is the fastest game on foot in the world, and it is obvious that this was bound to happen to someone someday .... negligence on the part of the league or arena? I see a law suit or out of court settilement coming ...

Hairy Sindin
said
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The Bell centre should be closed immediately and all hockey suspended until this hazardous workplace is investigated and dealt with.I would like to bring criminal charges for negligence causing injury by the owners of the Bell Centre.I've already called the police,they should be on their way now.

Frank
said
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OK Habs fans. You want a police complaint for that hit. Well, let's go back in time shall we. Saku Joivu cross-checking a Tampa Bay player in the neck while that player was liying down - no suspension. Who remembers the Chelios viscious head shot towards Brian Propp of the Flyers in 1989 - no penalty and no suspension. Mark Hunter who started the second brawl in 1984 (Good Friday Massacre)...But as soon as one player of the CH falls, you scream bloody murder. It was a hockey hit worthy of a 1 to 3 game suspension. Let it go and next game win. Have a playoff run like last year. Face the Bruins in the playoff and win that series...

Rod
said
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To everyone.

This is not a product of a bad hit or hits to the head, this is a cheep irresponsible hockey arena that will not improve the simple design of the glass, it was the placement of the glass that caused the injury to Pacioretty, and doesn�t AIR CANADA sponsor an arena, Oh yes the Air Canada Center, fix the glass in your own house before throwing stone at other houses. Removal of two seats to taper the corners to save the players from the abrupt neck breaking stop, all of you focus is on the hit, not on the problem. Remove the instigator rule and let the players themselves discipline the dirty players. The way all this worked in the past. Stop teaching the young players to turn there backs to the play so they can draw a penalty.

David
said
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Where do we draw a line and say what is acceptable and what is not? This young player will never play hockey again. It was not only his passion but his job. His work place has dangers and when players step onto the ice they know where they are. A player checking another in that area has to be accountable to take due diligence in the safety of others. The NHL is the owner of the company and is complicit in Chara's actions. In my opinion Chara should never play again. The line needs to be drawn here before a life it lost.

daniel
said
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not sure if it was a clean hit or not, there are arguments on both sides for those of us who play it was a risky hit at least., that could have caused injury and did. There is that micro second when u have to decide what you will do. Chara made his decision. The game has become too physical, skills are so high that all is left is to win games is by physical damage or threat of damage, the fluid beauty of the game is arrested. as for construction of the glass supports there are always ways to improve things. Hope max has a speedy 100% recovery

Stan Dawsson
said
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@ hockey girl. I'm 6'8"tall and weigh 300lbs. I could easily cripple you and most of the men commenting here with a "legal" hit. From your perspective, as you haul yourself onto the disabled persons toilet at McDonald's, would it matter whether or not the league said the hit was legal? I see two problems here. The first problem is people like you who believe that simply because they watch or play hockey at varying levels of amateurishness believe they are experts. The second problem is the NHL assumes that because they are running an entertainment sideshow, their conduct is above the law and simple rules of morality. I hope this hit is the turning point that forces the police and politicians to reign in this rogue league. Ultimately, it's the fans who simply want to see a man get crippled that are the real problem. Like the ancient Romans, they crave blood sports and hide behind they self declared super knowledge of hockey. They need help. That's you, hockey girl.

Granddad Slow Turtle
said
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Call me naive but I fail to see what hitting someone as hard as you can with a body check has anything to do with getting a puck into a net.

Brent
said
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Anyone who has watched the video can clearly see that Chara intentionally directed Pacioretty's head into the turnbuckle. The NHL's "Wheel Of Justic" spun again and landed on "Free Spin" as it does at random. The NHL has lost its credibility. Chara is a goon and should be sitting out indefinitely. I hope that Air Canada and other major sponsors, including TV and broadcast companies pull their support from the NHL.

hockey gal
said
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I think Chara's past record shows he is not a dirty player and maybe he did honestly not have the intent to injure the guy but any hit/play that results in a serious injury such as this should receive a suspension, even if it is only 5 games (based on Chara's past record, otherwise definitely more). Just to make players more aware of their actions and the potential consequences in any play. We have to protect the sport and the players. The players need to be reminded of their responsibility to be aware at all times on the ice. Similar to stick injuries. Your stick, your responsibility. If you injury a guy with your actions, was it reasonable to think it might happen? Not clean, mid ice hits, but if you hit a guy along the bench is it reasonable to assume at some time that bench ends??

Jason K
said
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Why the NHL doesn't simply round the edge of the stantions and the first pane of glass or two around areas where the glass ends is beyond me. It would eliminate this whole issue of slamming into a right angled piece of glass, causing serious injury.This is not the first time a player has had a serious run in with the abrupt start of the glass. Simply by rounding the edge and gradually (over a pane or two) having it rise to full height, a player who comes up against it would slide up the glass harmlessly rather than coming to an abrupt, instant stop the way they do now with the 90 degree square edge pane.Think about it NHL.

Dr. Intelligent Liberal
said
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Maybe the NHL should stop flying Air Canada due to their support of Montreal Canadians versus other teams.

small
said
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Hey JOSH, Is being hit exactly 0.8 seconds after you play the puck late?

To many people are making comments that didnt see the play. It was a perfectly legal hit. If you want to blame someone blame the rink for having glass there.

Stan Dawson
said
0 0

Chara is a disgusting goon who deliberately tried to maim another player. I hope he does time and pays a fine. However, it is the NHL that has lost all credibility by not coming down hard on Chara. I can't think of another professional sports franchise that allows it's paid professionals to be deliberately crippled. It's unconscionable. I hope and pray this case moves into the criminal courts since the NHL lacks the balls to ban criminal goon behaviour.

Jay
said
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Anyone who's played any type of sport at a high level has obviously developed skill above the average person. Along with that, is learned and instincitve knowledge of how to use the playing surface to their advantage. Non intentional hit? Maybe at beginner level but at this level of skill. Not on your life. Both players knew exactly where that stanchion was. Both have probably used it before. Chances are, Chara planned the hit and was just waiting for the opportunity. Now that the injuries are serious, he's playing the "I'm a nice guy and I didn't mean to" act. Next time you see a person in front of a court being charged with a serious crime. You'll see the same act.

Anne
said
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Perhaps threats like this, which affect the NHL financially will force them to take the idea of head shots (intentional or not) seriously. Players are suffering long term, life altering injuries and it is not acceptable.
"The game" will surive and may actually be improved if they move away from this type of behaviour.
Whether or not this was an intentional hit by Chara doesn't really matter as the damage has been done.

Allan
said
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Well then they had better ban boxing, MMA matches wrestling and football. Horse races will be next, we will all be playing table tennis.

CrazyCanuck
said
0 0

" Air Canada ... a bad airline". This has nothing to do with the sponsorship but more for marketing IMHO.
The NHL is THE only sporting game in the world that propagates physical fight and abuse from hot headed players. Brutal force is the norm in NHL.
Gary Bettman and company sees the NHL as money making machine knowing well aware that most North Americans has a knack for real fight and blood being witnessed on real live TV!
It'll still be around until one day in the near, near future someone really gets killed ... on Live TV!

Reid-Russell
said
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Good on Air Canada for stepping up to the plate & threatening to pull sponsorship ! Intentional or not - the outcome could end the bright career of Max P.,and Chara walks away. WHAT? The league is a joke, what has to happen, DEATH. Seriously, wake up NHL, these hits to the head, should be at least a 10 game suspension, I would throw them out for the season w/o pay.....
I am a Hab Fan, and saw the hit, with the last minute raised ELBOW push. If they play like this, then they must pay for their actions. This is not good for the league, the game. Shame on you Chara....maybe you should try Basketball, eh! Best Wish for Max,A Speedy & Full Recovery!!

Hauki Phan from ON
said
0 0

Reminder to everyone, Air Canada is only "threatening". What a crock ! Either you pull your support because you don't want your product or brand associated with hockey, or you continue to support it and you shut up. Air Canada has absolutely no say in the matter. Maybe the teams, particularily the Canadian teams will have to stop flying with Air Canada.

derek
said
0 0

Air Canada...based in Quebec..... Montreal player involved.... PATTERN !!! Where were they when other players were getting hurt ?? Sponsoring sport teams when you take money from the government because you can't make a go of it...does not exactly put you in any position to DICTATE.. anything. Love you Air Quebec.........

Gerard
said
0 0

This was a very sad event. This is not the first time that a player has been run into the edge of the glass whether intentional or not. Every now and again we have all seen this type of hit on replays in the top ten hits and cringed with excitement. The ice rink is a workplace, if there is a known hazard in the workplace the employer must fix it. The NHL should be held accountable not the player.

Josh
said
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If you watch the play again, the hit was very, very late. It was a hit which did not need to happen considering Pacioretty had gotten rid of the some time before. I'm pretty sure that Chara didn't mean to guide him into the stanchion but seeing as Pacioretty's career may be over, Chara should have gotten atleast a game suspension, maybe more. It is a truly unfortunate incident which seems to be happening more and more in the NHL. Hitting is apart of the game and it should stay that way but players should not have to fear for their lives every time they go into a corner or along the boards (Bergeron, Cole, Pacioretty). Giving Chara the benefit of the doubt because he has a thirteen year career is a stupid reason though...Bertuzzi was a first time offender when he punched Steve Moore in the back of the head, not that the incidents are in anyway the same but still, something has to be done.

KD
said
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To the poeple that say t"if this check happened anywhere else on the ice this" argument, please give your head a shake. The fact is that they were not anywhere else. Chara knew where he was and still decided to pursue his course of action. Besides that Chara was given an interference penalty, so the "check" was an illegal play. It's like this scenario, "if the driver was going 120km/h anywhere else than downtown, he wouldn't had collided with the other car and wouldn't have sent it into the lamp post crippling the the driver of that car".Stupid lamp post for being there!!!

hockey girl
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I really wish all you people talking about head shots actually knew hockey,,, This was NO headshot,, It was a clean hit as deemed by the NHL. It was unfortunate that the glass started there but again it was a CLEAN hit!! No we do not want to see the players get hurt, but this was not intentional and there is no punishment for clean checks,, if a goalie was hurt by a slap shot should we take those out too?? what about the defense that block the shots? those have caused ankle injuries,, should we remove the puck all together?? You guys are all up in arms without actuually knowing the sport!!! Had this been a head shot I would be right there with you, this is not the case. Go after the arena for not looking into this,, but get off the players and NHLs back.

Daniel
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Most people who like the fighting and head shots in hockey have the mentality of a 12 year old.

A Hockey Insider
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Just a quick comment to "Hockey girl": I agree if the same hit took place elsewhere on the ice it would not have been a problem. The issue is that Chara knew exactly what he was doing and purposely forced Pacioretty's upper body and head into the path of the glass partition. I feel this is beyond a hockey issue and should be looked at by the police as a criminal act.

A Hockey Insider
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I was watching the game when it happened. There is no doubt in my mind, and I'll say I am involved in professional hockey as a career, that the hit was intentional. The top brass of the NHL will not do what is right in these cases. This is not an isolated incident, you can see a pattern in their decisions, the only time they take real action is when they have a public relations disaster on their hands. I applaud Air Canada and I think it's high time there is a criminal investigation into the management of the NHL to uncover their policy of ignoring and even encouraging violence in an effort to pump ratings and revenues.

CMQ
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To saying it was "just a hit" it was not just a hit. If you watch the video from the various angles provided you see Charra give him one last push right at the stantion. He didn't need to give him a head shot or elbow, all he had to do was push him. It is an easy to knock him without much effort, the guy is 6'9" so it wouldn't take much effort. Something should have been handed down beyond the penalty during the game. The "head shots" this year have been terrible. When you see a guy checked from the side or behind flying off his feet and twisting in the air landing on his back over and over again something has to be done.

jason
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If they pull out it should be cheaper to fly. Pacioretty and his family should go after air canada for for compensation. Why is that piece of glass there, it dosn't seem to protect fans from danger. Air canada should have seen it coming one day or another with that glass there. No glass in that spot and Chara would not have goten a penalty.

keith
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air canada needs to straighten their own act up before they start pointing fingers at the nhl, they are such a bad airline

disturbed by league's reaction
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Good for Air Canada, the NHL isn't taking this issue seriously. Maybe it will start to listen as companies pull sponsorships.

Gerry from M.B. BUT NOT n.d.p.
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Air is that an air line in Canada ??

GoLeafsGo
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We acknowledge that these players have the ability and mind to make split second decisions that result in excellent skilled plays..... yet when one makes the split second decision to viciously hit a player without considering the consequences, hockey fans bury their heads in the sand. Thank you Air Canada! You have my utmost respect. Hopefully more people in power step up.

Al
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@ Jeremy, you are wrong. As fans, we can demand a lot of things but we gotta work together as one, if we want we can even make the Leafs organisation put together a decent team, the NHL is losing fan base in the US big time and the wise men running the NHL thinks that by allowing more violence and blood into the sport, they can woo more fans......JUST BOYCOTT THE NHL but then as a Torontonian, its like telling us not to eat

Scott
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Good for Air Canada!!! Proud of you. Now, Tim Horton's and the beer companies should do the same. Molson should be the first. Enough of this!!

Jon
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BOTH players should sue the league and Rink for such an offensive structure to be put in place. I'm from Toronto, so I am not biased about the hit. It was hardly anything... it is the league and arena that should be held accountable for putting such a stupid structure there ..... (the post)

PuckVader
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As a player for over 25 yrs, I also was always concerned for my own safety. But for those that may not have played but think the hit was intentional, just look again at the replay and you can see that Chara just rode him along the boards and Patchoreti (sp?) had his feet moving the whole time trying to squeeze by Chara. Instead of that, he should have put his hands up to save himself from the collision. I sure would have ! He was facing the stanchion and Chara was not as he was trying to keep him from squeaking by. Just part of the game that resulted in a serious injury, which I hated to watch. But, Chara did not mean to have that this happen nor did he try to run his head into the boards like that. The call was right (interference only) and every hockey sports analyst has said pretty much the same. If you've never played and can't look past your love for Montreal and hate for the Bruins or Chara (from his days in Ottawa), your opinions are based on feelings for the hurt player, which I feel as well, but these should be separated from the event.

MERNIE
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I am so glad.Maybe Chara didn't mean to hit him like that but I think that hits like that should be outlawed.

Sam C
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I have grown weary of the "fighting is part of the game" and "hockey is a rough sport" attitude. Yes, it's a rough sport, but the injuries that players are receiving are far more severe, and occurring with far more frequency. Good for Air Canada for threatening to pull their sponsorship. Perhaps if other sponsors do the same the NHL will finally take note, and take action.

Hockey girl
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I think it is an over reaction,, had this hit been anywhere else on the ice it would have been deemed a clean hit,, perhaps rather than blaming a player we should look at changing the way the partion just all of a sudden starts there. That is the real danger.

pat
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Then pull your (our) money, we don't need you anyway. And if you don't like the hitting, go watch soccer or some other useless "sport" but quit screwing with The Game. Seems to be mostly people who don't even understand the Game that have the biggest mouths. Get Lost!

Chris from Sudbury
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Yes. Finally a serious threat to the NHL if it doesn't clean up its act, and stop cheap shots, headshots, and deliberate hits intended to injure. This could be a career ending injury. My hat is off to Air Canada, for what they are doing/threatening if the NHL doesn't take action, and soon.This past weekend a high school hockey player here in Sudbury, took the skates out from under a Referee, he has been suspended indefinitely, and potentially faces criminal charges, as the play had stopped, and everyone else was far away from where the incident took place. He is currently suspended indefinitely, and as a former player and coach of the game, I believe he should never skate again, and neither should the Bruin's player.My prayer's to the Canadien's player, and his family, who witnessed this disgusting hit.

Brando
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I think Air Canada is just using this as an chance to save some money and pull out. I would be surprised if GB cared about Air Canada's money.

Lorne
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I agree that the NHL has become more of a gladiator arena then a hockey arena.However, on the other hand, players are well paid and know the risk, yet enjoy playing the game.My young guy played midget, took a hit from behind which actually cracked his helmet and suffered a concussion. He has not played hockey for over a year and a half - but misses the game tremendously, because he enjoyed it so much.Personally, I'm happy he's out of the game.A couple of concussions, separated shoulder and stick to the throat which just about displaced the voice box is enough for me. I don't miss the game involvement anymore.

JT
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Come on people...That same hit anywhere else in the rink would not have resulted in any kind of injury. It just so happened the check was in front the the players bench and finished where the glass started.Air Canada probably has to cut back from advertising costs and is looking for any means of a way out. Some exec at Air Canada is probably watching the Charlie Sheen drama and saw how the networks were able to cut ties.

Tom in North Bay
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Gimmie a break. Hits happen all the time, and this was just an accident that happened. If AC didnt pull sponsorship after bertuzzi incident and others, what the hell are they bitching about on a clean hit?

David
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I have seen the video of the check several times and it was not a head shot, when are you so called fans of the NHL going to wake up. It was an accident because the player's benches do not have glass in front and the posts at either end of the benches create an unsafe obstacle. The media is playing this up and now there are a lot of persons, who do not think, but act on emotion, that are joining the band wagon. Just because a player gets hurt, do not go looking to change the game all the time. For if you do let these so called hockey fans do, you might as well watch paint dry for entertainment.

marc in bc
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I think the problem here was the "stanchion"The hit was clean. How about changing the design of the stanchion to deflect a player colliding with it or have a 2ft' cushion attached to it? They put nets up in every rink big and small because a small child was killed by a shot! Time for the NHL to act! Do it now!!

Joe
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I hope everyone pulls sponsorship in the NHL. The league punishes the goons but does nothing to the star players.

Robbie
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Betman and Buddies need to go ...Why can' t we have Olympic style hockey instead of the "goon squa" like thing that trys to call itself sport??

Jammer
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If AC wants to pull it's support, so be it, but don't use the Chara incident as a basis for it. This was NOT a head shot. It was an act of interference that resulted in an unfortunate injury. Crap happens. For all you Hab fans that have posted, let me ask you this. If Carey Price shoved a guy out of his crease, resulting in the puck hitting his head and ending his career, should Price also have his career ended as punishment? Bet you wouldn't agree with that would you. Didn't think so. Get rid of deliberate head shots and intent to injure and leave the rest alone.

chris douglas
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right on air canada, IT'S TIME TO FLY ABOVE THE REST. INCLUDING BETMAN. FLY AIR CANADA FLY. It is like legalizing the right to push someone into an on coming train. And he who denies the intent creates his own blindness. ( inocents tell proven guilty, I only wanted to dismember his head your honer but I didn't mean to criple him for life, I'll be more carefull next time your honer. OK, WAKE UP AMERICA

Tony Ma
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And what brand would that be Air Canada?I think head shots from delays, no customer service, lost baggage, high pricing....should also be looked at too. Get off your high horse and address your own shortcomings before gazing at the NHL's issues

Tim
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I've had issues with AC in the past, but this is truly an important statement in many ways. AC cannot be found associating with an organization that pays people solely on the basis of their ability to inflict career-ending injuries on their opponents. Yes, advertisers should not be able to effect changes to the sport, if the changes are solely in the interest of the advertiser. You cannot say to anyone, and expect to be considered intelligent, that concussions and broken vertibrae are things that everyone should not demand an end to.

eddytoronto
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Have We lost the morale high ground?...Dont the players know its a game and people (Kids) are watching? He has a family you know?..I think a body check is meant to interupt they player not to cripple. I personally dont like Hockey...Soccer is the game Hockey should learn from ........ Tons and tons of rules makes the game work and fair....like american football, and basketball for example....the Star is the Team philosophy and praise the power of the collective...The important thing is to keep on innovating and finding a way to surprise. You always look to surprise, with dribbling, a new move, a new pass or dunk. If you dont innovate, they all take the ball or puck away from you. I believe its important to innovate in order to avoid repetition.Creativity can be immediately applied and has to be found on the pitch again and again. Every match is a blank slate. This is what business leaders can learn from soccer !Innovation is, literally, a play, and the best players will win.Enjoyment. The most important consideration is that the practices and games are enjoyable....Please understand this... Arriba Uruguay 2014 El MARACANAZO Part 2..

David
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Pull their sponsorship.......hmmmmm, as a taxpayer who has bailed them out countless times without my permission by the government, isn't it my sponsorship money?

Jeremy
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Right on. If we as fans cannot demand action from this narrow minded league, maybe sponsors can enact change. This is all that seems to matter to the front office guys, money and their brand name. Hit them where it hurts, and they will start listening. Gary Bettman is the absolute worst thing that has ever happened to the game I love.I want my game back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MDuclos
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Great Job Air Canada

Michael
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Seriously, I think Air Canada should be much more concerned about getting the planes from point A to Point B safely and in a timely manner. The sport is a lot cleaner than it was when they initially took the sponsorship. Are they trying to make a stand because they do not agree with the ruling? What a joke, I really hope the NHL politely tells Air Canada to go shove it and take your sponsorship dollars with you.

Wendell Carroll
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Good for Air Canada, the NHL and other Pro sports have become completely driven by the almighty dollar and not enough concern about the lives of the people involved. If major sponsors pull their financial support maybe some change will be considered. Crosby's concussion and Pacorietty's injury haven't been enough to invoke change, hopefully sponsor pressure will work before the league deals with a death on the ice.

CYL
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I think they should pull their sponsorship. I use to like watching hockey, not for years now. If I wanted to watch a fighting match I would watch fighting, boxing, wrestling or such sports. Too many incidents of head injuries is uncalled for. I am all for all sponsors to pull out.

spaz
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I must commend Air Canada for having the wisdom to see the error in judgement the NHL has gotten itself into.One must wonder if the NHL considers players expendable, or a cost of doing business in the almighty quest of 1 Ratings and 2 Profits for the team owners.I for one have not forgotten how fast Bettman and the NHL got off their chairs when Jim Balsillie wanted to move the Coyotes to Hamilton......they waste no time when there are dollars at stake.If Bettman is of the opinion it was a fair hit.....lets put some skates on him, pass him the puck while Charra is on the ice.....now that's something I would pay to see.

Canuck
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Great job Air Canada, in taking a stand for the player's safety!

CJD Thornton
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Good for Air Canada! Maybe now Bettman will realize that he and the owners have to get off their complacent back sides and do something about thug hockey.

Get Real Habs Fans
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Let them pull their sponsorship....can't let "sponsors" decide league rules or pressure league to enforce rules in a way that benefits their team. Purely biased rant ill befitting a corporate sponsor... league should fine THEM!! Any sport - football, car racing, horse jumping, hockey, basketball, etc..has inherent risks of serious injury. A risk players are VERY well compensated for, and are fully aware of when they decide to enter the sport.

Laurie
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Good for Air Canada. The goons in the NHL have to be stopped. One of the best players the league has ever seen, Crosby, is out becuase of cheep shots. Players who cannot keep up with others due to lack of skill respond with goon tactics and enough is enough. The NHL should adopt International rules and take the "bush league" tactics out of hockey. Hockey is a great game when it is played as a game of skill and not condoning back alley thugs.But sadly, no change is in sight. Bertussi is still playing, years after he should have been given the boot for life. Wake up NHL, before it is too late.

Jim
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Good for Air Canada (never thought I would say that).All these hockey clowns think of is $$$.Cut them off.

Habs fan in Toronto
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Intentional or not, any body check that results in a head wound should be treated the same. Suspension while the injured is unable to return to play.In trhis case, if POacioretty never returns, then Chara would suffer the same consequence.Same for Crosby's injury!I don't mind the body checking, it is part of the game. Smae for the fighting, but head shots like that. Time to head shot Bettman!