Second NHL sponsor berates league

MONTREAL, March 12 (UPI) -- A second major sponsor of two Canadian National Hockey League teams has chastised the NHL for its handling of a violent incident in Montreal this week.

The national passenger line VIA Rail sent a letter Friday to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman criticizing the decision not punish Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara for his board-check on Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty Tuesday that left Pacioretty with a broken neck and severe concussion.

"VIA Rail is concerned, as are its customers, that the NHL seems unable to take appropriate measures to protect the physical integrity of its players," the letter said.

The rail carrier, a major sponsor of the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, called the NHL decision "ineffective and unacceptable," the QMI Agency reported.

While VIA Rail stopped short of threatening to withdraw its sponsorship, Air Canada, which sponsors all six Canadian NHL franchises, did so in a letter to Bettman Thursday.

There were also reports major sponsors Tim Hortons restaurants and communications giant BCE Inc., had complained to the league.

Meanwhile, police in Montreal were given Quebec provincial orders Thursday to investigate whether criminal assault charges against Chara were warranted.