Tuesday, Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty was out cold after a brutal check by the Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara. He had to be removed from the ice on a a stretcher. Watch:
After the Canadiens' practice today, head coach Jacques Martin released a statement about Pacioretty's condition.
Martin says that Pacioretty remains hospitalized. He "has a severe concussion, as well as a fracture of the fourth cervical vertebrae, but it's not displaced. ... There will be no other prognosis for the time being, but he will obviously be out indefinitely."
Chara was handed a five-minute penalty and a game misconduct. He did not return to play. Deadspin reports, "The pair had a shoving match after a game in January, but, after the game, Chara denied taking a cheap shot."
Earlier today, Chara had a disciplinary call from the NHL and may be suspended.
Just last week, the Edmonton Oilers' Taylor Hall was injured in an on-ice fight with the Columbus Blue Jackets' Derek Dorsett.
A report was also released last week in the death of former pro hockey star Bob Probert. Probert, who died of heart failure at the age of 45, suspected that his hockey career had damaged his brain. He was correct: An autopsy found that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is the condition that has been the subject of much scrutiny in football in recent years.
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