Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Official Statement Released on Chara Supplemental Discipline

After a complete review of last night's incident between Boston's Zdeno Chara and Max Pacioretty in Montreal, the NHL released the results of their findings and issued no supplemental discipline on Chara.

With all the firestorm that has ensued in the media, this will do nothing to calm the masses who seem to be fairly evenly split on whether it was a dirty hit or an unfortunate situation.

Here is the complete, unedited release from the NHL...

Statement from NHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Mike Murphy on Zdeno Chara Hit in NHL Game #996


TORONTO (March 9, 2011) – National Hockey League Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Mike Murphy today issued the following statement on Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara’s hit in NHL game #996 last night against the Montreal Canadiens:


"I conducted a hearing with Boston Bruins' defenseman Zdeno Chara with respect to the major penalty for interference and game misconduct that he was assessed at 19:44 of the second period for a hit on Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens.


“After a thorough review of the video I can find no basis to impose supplemental discipline. 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.


“This was a hockey play that resulted in an injury because of the player colliding with the stanchion and then the ice surface. In reviewing this play, I also took into consideration that Chara has not been involved in a supplemental discipline incident during his 13-year NHL career."


More Later...

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