March 17th, 2011 • Uncategorized
About a week ago, in a game between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadians, Zdeno Chara checked Max Pacioretty of the Canadiens, head first into the turnbuckle between the two benches. The hit left Pacioretty severely concussed and with a broken fourth vertebra. The NHL decided to not suspend Chara, as the hit was deemed a “terrible consequence” of the game. None the less, the hit, which could have easily cost Pacioretty (22 years old) his playing career, added to the NHL’s reputation as being violent and dangerous.
Air Canada, one of the NHL’s main sponsors, lashed out at the NHL and threatened to pull their sponsorship of the league if something isn’t done to clamp down on dangerous hits to the head. Although many other sponsors expressed their concern over hits to the head, having one threaten to pull their sponsorship is unprecidented, in the NHL and sports leagues everywhere.
I can see where Air Canada is coming from, being an airline where safety is at the forefront of concern, associating themselves with a sport known for its element of danger does not seem like a great idea. However, I have come to the conclusion that Air Canada’s statements are no more than an empty threat aimed at gaining some form of publicity(this is a very biased opinion). There is no way Air Canada would pull its sponsorship of the NHL. If they were to do so, and threaten the stability of the league, every canadian who loves hockey (99% of canadians), would never fly Air Canada again (if they don’t already as it is a lowsy airline). At the end of the day does the NHL need to crack down on hits to the head? Yes. Does Air Canada need to realize that hockey (like football and other sports) is a dangerous game? Yes