No criminal charges against Chara on Pacioretty hit

QUEBEC – There will be no criminal charges laid against Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara over an on-ice incident last March.

The hulking defenceman shoved Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty into a stanchion, breaking a vertebra and ending his season.

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In a statement released today, Quebec’s director of criminal prosecutions says it does not believe a court would find Chara guilty of a crime and it has closed the case.

Chara received a game misconduct but no further suspension from the NHL, and the ensuing uproar in Montreal prompted law enforcement to take a closer look at the case.

Montreal police met with various witnesses and concluded their investigation in August after meeting with Chara himself.

Pacioretty had been critical of the NHL’s non-suspension, but even he had called the police involvement unnecessary. He has since recovered and returned to play this season.