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.
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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.
Other hockey teams have took to social media in support of Jordan Subban including the Hershey Bears and the Washington Capitals.