Jacob Panetta, Jacksonville Icemen defenseman, has been suspended indefinitely by the ECHL pending a hearing regarding what Jordan Subban, South Carolina Stingrays defenceman, claimed was a racist taunt Saturday night.
Rob Concannon, the president of the Stingrays in South Carolina, released a statement saying that “The South Carolina Stingrays were disgusted by last night’s incident involving Jordan Subban.” “Our organization stands with Jordan, our friend, and fellow teammate. This is unacceptable behavior and must be stopped.
It was overtime and South Carolina’s Andrew Cherniwchan collided against Jacksonville’s goalie Justin Kapelmaster. This triggered a skirm between the two teams. Subban claims that he attempted to fight Panetta. Panetta, who is Black, allegedly taunted Subban.
“As soon he turned his back, he started making monkey movements towards me. So I punched him repeatedly in the face, and he was a complete coward.” Subban tweeted.
More like @JPanetta12He was just too cowardly to fight me. As soon as I turned my back, he began making monkey gestures to me. I punched him multiple times in the face and he acted like a coward. It was fixed.?? https://t.co/JtPqpN9wwE
— Jordan Subban (@jordansubban) January 23, 2022
They fought while being surrounded by both players and officials from each team. They were both handed major penalties and misconduct sanctions, which sent them back to their locker rooms. Subban’s friend Nico Blachman was sent to the locker room after he punched Panetta.
Jacksonville won the game by a score of 1-0 thanks to an overtime power-play goal. The Icemen, a minor league affiliate of Major League Baseball, are the Icemen. New York Rangers. The Stingrays are an affiliated of the Washington Capitals.
On Saturday night, news of the incident quickly spread. New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. SubbanJordan’s older brother, Darren, shared Panetta’s taunt on video and called out ECHL.
“They don’t call the East Coast League a ‘jungle’ because my brother and other black players are the monkeys!” Jacob Panetta, don’t delete your Instagram or Twitter account so quickly. “History tells us that you will likely be able to play again. P.K. Subban tweetedHis one million followers.
“But things are changing now. P.K. wrote, “But things are changing now. Subban. Subban. Everyone is aware of what’s acceptable and unacceptable. Your teammates and even your teammates were eager to see you clean up your clock. This is a common occurrence and is rarely exposed in the lower leagues.
This incident took place one day after Krystof Barracuda forward San Jose Barracuda was suspended for 30 games following a racist gesture he made toward Boko Imama, Tucson Roadrunners, in a Jan. 12 match. Hrabik (22 years old) mimicked the movements of a monkey to taunt Imama who is Black.
Hrabik has the opportunity to join the NHL’s Player Inclusion Committee. Subban is listed in the role of co-chair. After missing 21 games Subban can apply for reinstatement to the AHL. A decision will then be made “based on his progress in education and training with the Player Inclusion Committee.”
Both incidents continue a pattern of racist taunts in professional Hockey. Andrei Deniskin, a Ukrainian Hockey League player, mocked Jalen Smereck by eating and peeling a banana in 2021. Deniskin was expelled for 13 games.
Smereck responded to Subban’s incident via Instagram. She wrote: “It’s the first of 2022, and there has already been a two racial gestures at the second and third highest North American leagues. Think about all the things that are happening at the youth level with young children. They don’t have to be recorded.