Outrage builds following hit against Pacioretty

OTTAWA – Tuesday night’s controversial on-ice hit from Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara on Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty – which resulted in the Habs’ player suffering a concussion after he hit his head full-speed and full-force on a stanchion – has reverberated across the country and on Parliament Hill.

"I was disgusted," Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff said in French outside the House of Commons. "I was disgusted. Like all members of the House.

"As a sports fan, as somebody who’s watched this game since I was a kid, I simply don’t understand what the NHL is thinking here," he continued in English. "We’re in the middle of the most serious crisis in the history of the game," he added,referring to the growing number of players suffering concussions.

"It’s up to the National Hockey League to protect its players. It’s up to the National Hockey League to protect all the young kids playing the game."

Pacioretty, 22, suffered a severe concussion and a fracture of the fourth cervical vertebrae when Chara ran him into the end of the glass that divides the players’ benches, late in the second period at Montreal’s Bell Centre.

The front, left side of Pacioretty’s head collided violently with the end of the glass, which is lightly padded.

Pacioretty was knocked unconscious before eventually being removed from the ice on a stretcher and transported to the hospital. His parents were in attendance.

Chara received a penalty for interference along with one for game misconduct.

‘No basis’ for suspension

On Wednesday afternoon, the NHL announced Chara, who stands six-foot-nine before he laces up his skates, would not be suspended.

“After a thorough review of the video, I can find no basis to impose supplemental discipline," NHL senior vice-president of hockey operations Mike Murphy said in a news release.

"This hit resulted from a play that evolved and then happened very quickly – with both players skating in the same direction and with Chara attempting to angle his opponent into the boards. I could not find any evidence to suggest that, beyond this being a correct call for interference, that Chara targeted the head of his opponent, left his feet or delivered the check in any other manner that could be deemed to be dangerous," the release said.

Pacioretty ‘disgusted’

Pacioretty told TSN on Wednesday that he is "upset and disgusted" that Chara was not suspended.

"I’m not mad for myself, I’m mad because if other players see a hit like that and think it’s OK, they won’t be suspended, then other players will get hurt like I got hurt."

Chara, who turns 34 March 18, weighs 255 pounds, nearly 50 pounds more than Pacioretty.

According to the Bruins website, Chara had this to say about the play Wednesday: "It’s just one of those things . . . like glass extensions, doors, even hockey nets are part of the game and obviously, players run into them.

"It’s just very, very unfortunate that a player got hurt."

Chara also said he planned to contact the Canadiens forward. "I feel bad about what happened."

So did members of the Canadiens.

And, hours before the league ruling, they didn’t quite see things the same way as the NHL’s Murphy.

"It makes your guts hurt," goaltender Carey Price said. "I’m pretty sure (Chara) was aware. If you look at the replay, it happened kind of slowly. He took three or four strides for it to happen. That’s a lot of time to see what’s going to

happen.

"It’s pretty wild when you can put someone else’s livelihood in your own hands."

In the House of Commons, Gary Lunn, the minister responsible for amateur sports said, "this type of hitting is unacceptable."

New Democratic MP Glenn Thibeault said the country "was stunned silent (Tuesday) night as we witnessed yet another shattering-on-ice head shot. Max Pacioretty joins a long list of athletes who will soon know the devastating effects of a concussion."

Thibeault implored the governing Conservatives to support a New Democratic Party bill aimed at reducing concussions and serious injuries in amateur sports.

"Traumatic brain injuries are not just affecting NHL players," he said. "(They are) also affecting amateur athletes and our children. The game is faster. The equipment is harder. Strategies are needed to protect young Canadian athletes."

‘Deeply concerned’

Lunn said his department has "spoken with national sports organizations," and that he was "working with the minister of health on strategies of bringing them together. It is something that we are concerned about.

"On what we saw with the NHL (Tuesday) night, I was deeply concerned," Lunn said.

"I saw that hockey player out cold on the ice as well. Again, we would do everything to ensure that NHL does not allow this kind of action to continue."

Outside the House, Ignatieff said hockey’s problems have left Canadians concerned.

"It’s up to the National Hockey League to act and I can tell you, there is strong feeling in the House of Commons that if they don’t act, then, you know, we should get involved," he said. "No politician wants to get involved in this, it’s not our business. But as a citizens, as a fan, I think it’s outrageous."

The NHL has suffered a spate of concussions over the last few seasons, something which has hurt the game’s already fragile reputation and has robbed its fans of the ability to watch some of the best players play.

Crosby’s concussion

Sidney Crosby, arguably the top player in the world, suffered a concussion after being hit by David Steckel on Jan. 1 and Victor Hedman on Jan. 5. He hasn’t played since.

"It’s serious when you see an injury like that," the Canadiens’ Martin said. "The league has to deal with those issues.

It’s not the first time. It seems to be getting worse and worse. The league has to take some responsibility. It was a dangerous hit."

But the coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs disagreed.

"No, not at all," Ron Wilson told reporters Wednesday. "I think he’s huge, very strong, the strongest player in the league by far. But I think too much attention is being drawn to (Chara). It was an accident in itself."

By the afternoon, half an hour after the league’s decision was released, Twitter.com calculated that five of the top 10 most-tweeted search terms in Canada were about the hit.

"Truth is, hockey’s a brutal contact sport," retired NHL player Jeremy Roenick said via Twitter.

"The game happens so fast, it forces players to make bad decisions that can cause damage (especially because) of the arena’s dimensions and structures . . . Injuries will always occur in contact sports, especially when parts of the playing surface cause the worst of the damage, so who’s at fault?"

Pacioretty remained at the Montreal General Hospital Wednesday afternoon. His vertebrae is not displaced, according to Martin, and he will remain under observation. However, it seems certain Pacioretty won’t play again this season.

Indeed, his NHL career could be in jeopardy.

"I’m not a medical doctor," Martin said on Wednesday, following the team’s 45-minute practice at the Bell Sports Complex. "What’s important is that there’s no displacement.”

"Our first concern (as an organization) is that he gets his health back as a human being. You hope he’ll recover and continue his career, but it’s too soon to know his (potential) limitations. He’s still under observation."

Pacioretty out of action indefinitely

Martin stopped short of accusing Chara of deliberately attempting to injure Pacioretty.

"I think players are aware of the dimensions of the rink, where the situations are located in (terms of the) bench and aware of their environment," Martin said. "As a player, you know who you’re facing. But it’s not my role to accuse. It’s an incident that occurred. It’s important to understand the severeness of the

incident."

Pacioretty is out of action indefinitely, almost certainly for the remainder of the season. And there’ll be speculation his career is potentially in jeopardy, although the fourth cervical vertebrae isn’t as severe as the first. And the fact it wasn’t displaced could prove significant.

Pacioretty, was the Canadiens’ second choice (22nd overall) in the 2007 entry draft. The six-foot-two, 208-pounder, a native of New Canaan, Connecticut, has been one of the team’s best players this season, with 14 goals and 24 points in 37 games.

With files from Herb Zurkowsky and Catherine Solyom, Montreal Gazette and Derek Shelly, Postmedia News