Chara not charged for Pacioretty hit

QUEBEC CITY (AP) - Quebec's prosecutor says Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara won't face criminal charges for his hit on Montreal Canadiens' forward Max Pacioretty last spring.

Pacioretty broke a vertebra and was out for the season after being shoved into a stanchion by Boston's 6-foot-9 defenseman in March.

The provincial prosecutors' office said in a statement Thursday that it does not believe a court would find Chara guilty of a crime and it has closed the case.

Chara received a game misconduct but was not suspended. The ensuing uproar in Montreal prompted the police investigation.

Montreal police interviewed various witnesses and concluded their investigation in August after meeting with Chara.

Pacioretty was critical of the NHL's handling of the incident, but had called police involvement unnecessary. He has returned to play this season.