JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Icemen are facing backlash after an on-ice racial gesture led to a brawl at Saturday night’s game.
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According to a Facebook video, Icemen player #15 Jacob Panetta was having a heated argument with South Carolina Stingrays player Jordan Subban when he made a gorilla gesture at Subban, who is African American. The gesture sparked a massive brawl on the ice.
Panetta has since responded to the incident stating “I was seen making the same gestures to non racialized player” in a Twitter post and apologizing in two separate videos here and here.
@jordansubban this is the video I was referring to. You were not with South Carolina at the time and I was seen making the same gestures to non racialized players. Again my sincerest apologies to you and your family. pic.twitter.com/EgSLZuBgHn
— Jacob Panetta (@JPanetta12) January 23, 2022
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NHL pro P.K. Subban, Jordan Subban’s brother, took to Twitter last night in response to the event and was quick to notice Panetta’s sudden absence from social media.
“They don’t call the east coast league the jungle because my brother and the other black players are the monkeys!” said Subban, “Hey @jacobpanetta you shouldn’t be so quick to delete your Twitter or your Instagram account...”
The Icemen CEO Andy Kaufmann announced Sunday afternoon that despite the ongoing investigation at the league level, Panetta is going to be released from the team “effective immediately.
Action News Jax will continue to monitor this story as events continue to unfold.
The ECHL has suspended Jacksonville Icemen defenceman Jacob Panetta indefinitely, pending a hearing, for an apparent racial gesture toward Jordan Subban of the South Carolina Stingrays during Saturday night's gamehttps://t.co/06BlVffdWl
— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) January 23, 2022
They don’t call the east coast league the jungle because my brother and the other black players are the monkeys! Hey @jacobpanetta you shouldn’t be so quick delete your Twitter or your Instagram account you will probably be able to play again… that’s what history says but things pic.twitter.com/8zOJ9q47pk
— P.K. Subban (@PKSubban1) January 23, 2022
Other hockey teams have took to social media in support of Jordan Subban including the Hershey Bears and the Washington Capitals.
Statement from the Hershey Bears regarding last night’s incident involving Jordan Subban, who plays for our ECHL affiliate, the @SCStingrays. pic.twitter.com/qdTh8y7fOd
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) January 23, 2022
The Washington Capitals stand in support of Jordan Subban and our ECHL affiliate @SCStingrays after a racist gesture was made against him at Jacksonville on Jan. 22. We must continue to eradicate this type of disgusting behavior from our game and society. https://t.co/zKkTwl56PP
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 23, 2022
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