The ECHL indefinitely suspended defenseman Jacob Panetta on Sunday earlier than the Jacksonville Icemen launched him, after he allegedly made a racist gesture at South Carolina Stingrays defenseman Jordan Subban throughout a recreation Saturday evening.
Subban stated Panetta made “monkey gestures” at him throughout a skirmish within the minor league hockey recreation, which led to the self-discipline handed down on Sunday.
The league had introduced Panetta’s suspension Sunday morning, pending a listening to beneath the Collective Bargaining Settlement. The Icemen, an affiliate of the Rangers, initially launched a press release saying they might cooperate with the investigation earlier than saying Panetta’s launch lower than two hours later.
“To be clear, our core values as an possession group embody one love and nil tolerance for racism or some other types of hate in opposition to any group by any means,” group CEO Andy Kaufmann stated in a press release. “The platform that’s the Jacksonville Icemen is one that’s extra than simply about hockey to us as a gaggle. It’s about utilizing this platform to unfold not solely our love for hockey however our love for the neighborhood and for one another.
“Although the investigation and overview is ongoing on the league stage, the Jacksonville Icemen can be releasing the participant concerned efficient instantly and can proceed our mission of sharing our love of neighborhood and hockey. On behalf of your entire Icemen group, we apologize to anybody who was offended and stay up for starting the method of therapeutic collectively as one. Thanks.”
The incident reportedly started after a participant on every group collided with one another in extra time. Subban, the brother of Devils defenseman P.Ok. Subban, stated he then tried to combat Panetta, 25, who declined earlier than making the racist taunt.
“[Panetta] was an excessive amount of of a coward to combat me and as quickly as I started to show my again he began making monkey gestures at me so I punched him within the face a number of occasions and he turtled just like the coward he’s,” Subban tweeted.
The ECHL episode got here a day after the AHL suspended San Jose Barracudas ahead Krystof Hrabik for 30 video games for making a racist gesture towards Boko Imama throughout a recreation earlier this month.
P.Ok. Subban tweeted about his brother’s incident on Saturday evening, together with video of Panetta’s alleged taunt, saying issues prefer it occur extra often than it’s reported.
Warning: Graphic Language
“They don’t name the east coast league the jungle as a result of my brother and the opposite black gamers are the monkeys!” P.Ok. Subban wrote. “Hey @jacobpanetta you shouldn’t be so fast delete your Twitter or your Instagram account you’ll most likely be capable to play once more… that’s what historical past says however issues are altering. not simply the hockey world is aware of your true colors… your hometown of Belleville is aware of, your loved ones, and associates know you’re a fraud.
“With every thing that has gone on up to now couple years on this planet I’ll say with all due respect to everybody who has an opinion, this isn’t a mistake. Everyone knows what’s okay and what’s not. Even your individual teammates wished to see you get your clock cleaned. This occurs quite a bit and it by no means will get uncovered within the decrease leagues. One factor that I like about that is Jordan’s teammates standing in there and exhibiting assist. Love that. Shout out to @RobConcannon & @scstingrayshockey.”
