The Chara Hit Aftermath
Added on Mar 10, 2011 by J Merrill in
1 Comment
The Chara aftermath is tearing through the NHL, and hockey fans all over the world. In a time when we should be talking about an exciting playoff race, we are talking about Montreal Police investigating a horrific looking hit on the ice by Zdeno Chara that sent Max Pacioretty to the hospital with a bad concussion and a broken neck. There isn’t any real comment from the local officials in Montreal, but the reactions from all sides are flooding in today.
NHL Commissioner is on record as saying they are ok with the decision that they made. He is basically saying that we are reviewing the hit, and not the injury. He told the media “Our hockey operations people are extraordinarily comfortable with the decision that they made. 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 and, in fact, the people in the game who I have heard from, almost to a person, believe that it was handled appropriately by hockey operations.”
Bruins coach Claude Julien is of course remaining in the corner of his player. He said “No matter what your answer, there’s always going be two sides to that. We’re supportive of our player. We know he didn’t do it on purpose. It wasn’t intentional. I said that yesterday. But, at the same time, I understand their frustration at the other end because we’ve been on the other side of the coin, and it’s normal to be frustrated and I understand them as well. And that’s basically my thoughts on that.” Julien went on to say that they have hockey to focus on, He said “There’s still things hanging over our heads right now. It doesn’t seem to want to disappear. And those are situations that are unfortunate, and they’re not easy to deal with for anybody, whether it’s the organization, the players and everybody involved here. It’s not an easy situation because we understand that there’s a player that’s injured at the other end. As I mentioned earlier, we’ve had that happen to us. It goes past the game itself. We’re talking about individuals. We don’t wish that on anybody. And that kind of stuff doesn’t disappear overnight.”
Last night we heard from Max Pacioretty, and Max was very clear about the fact that he thought the actions by Chara were intentional and meant with malice. He told TSN “I heard (Chara) said he didn’t mean to do it. I felt he did mean to do it. I would feel better if he said he made a mistake and that he was sorry for doing that, I could forgive that, but I guess he’s talking about how I jumped up or something. I believe he was trying to guide my head into the turnbuckle. We all know where the turnbuckle is. It wasn’t a head shot like a lot of head shots we see but I do feel he targeted my head into the turnbuckle.”
Pacioretty had some harsh words for the NHL as well, and he said he was shocked that they didn’t react tot he hit. He said “I am upset and disgusted that the league didn’t think enough of (the hit) to suspend him. I’m not mad for myself, I’m mad because if other players see a hit like that and think it’s okay, they won’t be suspended, then other players will get hurt like I got hurt.”
Zdeno Charra and Pacioretty have a history of pushing and shoving each other, and many people believe that Chara targeted him specifically. Even though a lot of people find it hard to believe, Chara is saying he didn’t even know Max was on the ice. “No I didn’t know it was him. It was the faceoff and we tried to set up the play, and basically the puck went to the other side and we were racing for the puck. And I had no idea he was out on the ice. I had no idea it was him.” Chara went on to say he understood Pacioretty’s frustrations, he said “I totally understand. He’s in the hospital, so he’s got the right to be emotional, and I respect that. I obviously feel bad that he got hurt. As a player, as a hockey player, we all feel bad when something like that happens. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the home team or the visiting team. Obviously I’m wishing him a fast recovery, and hopefully he can be back on the ice soon. ”
This has even sparked some blow back from NHL sponsor Air Canada. They sent a letter regarding all the head shots and injuries that have taken players off the ice for an extended period of time. Air Canada’s director of marketing communications Denis Vandal said in the letter addressed to commissioner Bettman “We are contacting you (Wednesday) to voice our concern over (Tuesday night’s) incident involving Max Pacioretty and Zdeno Chara at the Bell Centre in Montreal. This is following several other incidents involving career-threatening and life-threatening headshots in the NHL recently.”
Vandal said in the letter that his main concern was to protect his companies image and brand. He concluded “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; action must be taken by the NHL before we are encountered with a fatality. Unless the NHL takes immediate action with serious suspension to the players in question to curtail these life-threatening injuries, Air Canada will withdraw its sponsorship of hockey.”
Commissioner Bettman responded this afternoon to the news of the letter. He said “Actually, the letter came before any decision or discipline was meted out. I have responded to the letter from Air Canada. Our Hockey Operations people are extraordinarily comfortable with the decision that they made. It was a horrific injury and we’re sorry it happened in our fast-paced, physical game, but I don’t think whether or not supplemental discipline was imposed would have changed what happened.”
Bettman went on to say that he has been getting a lot of feedback that their decision was the right one, and basically said its their choice where to spend their advertising dollars. He also said that the NHL teams may choose to relocate their travel budgets as well. Bettman said “Air Canada is a great brand, as is the National Hockey League. If they decide that they need to do other things with their sponsorship dollars, that is their prerogative, just that it is the prerogative of our clubs that fly on Air Canada to make other arrangements if they don’t think Air Canada is not giving them the appropriate level of service.”
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March 10, 8:17 pm
Everyone associated with the hockey world needs to give their collective heads a shake!
The rules have to apply EQUALLY to the superstars, rookies, agitators and goons alike. There is way too much inconsistancy in how the rules are applied.
‘Oh well, we cant suspend Crosby for a bad hit, because he fills the seats.’ Bulls$#t. If you do something wrong, expect to suffer the consequences. Plain and simple. Somewhere along the way, the players have lost respect for each other and it has become the UFC of Hockey. Why is it that the players are stronger, the game faster and the equipment like kevlar?
Shoulder and elbow pads are meant for the protection of the player wearing them, not to be used as a weapon against another players head or neck or back.By the way, The Bruins are the least penalized team in the league right now any guesses as to why?
Inconsistancy is the main problem in the game today. Did we see this kind of lynch mob mentality when Savard or Bergeron were hit?
I had to laugh when I saw that Steven Harper and Air Canada had the audacity to throw in their 2 cents worth. Keep your beaks where they belong, ruining Canada as a country, and air travel in said country. No wonder we go across the border to get decent air fares.
Consistancy folks, if the league and those that rule it can get their heads together around that concept, maybe just maybe, things could improve in The NHL.
Respect each other as players and athletes. Keep a good fight in the game, because fighting is part of hockey and always will be. But lets decide cheap shots, hits from behind and shoulder shots to the head don’t belong anywhere in the game. Be consistant with any such hit, no matter who does it and suspend them for the same amount of time the injured player is out, and we may just eliminate the need for the political head of Canada to stick his nose where it has no place being. Maybe if he was paying more attention to Canada’s health care crisis, unemployment rates and the outrageous price of gas and education, he wouldnt have so much time to complain about hockey!