Jacob Panetta has been accused of making a racist gesture at an opponent during Saturday night’s ECHL hockey game. The Jacksonville Icemen defenseman has been suspended indefinitely pending a hearing. 

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Panetta allegedly made a monkey gesture toward the South Carolina Stingrays’ Jordan Subban, who is Black, during a fight on the field. With 23 seconds into overtime, a video shows, the 26-year-old Jacksoville player, appeared to raise his arms toward his side while looking at Subban. 

The Icemen announced that they would be releasing Panetta.”To be clear, our core values as an ownership group include one love and zero tolerance for racism or any other forms of hate against any group whatsoever. The platform that is the Jacksonville Icemen is one that is more than just about hockey to us as a group. It is about using this platform to spread not only our love for hockey but our love for the community and for each other,” team CEO Andy Kaufmann said in a statement.

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Subban is the younger brother of three-time NHL All-Star P.K. Subban. 

“More like @JPanetta12 [Panetta] was too much of a coward to fight me and as soon as I began to turn my back he started making monkey gestures at me so I punched him in the face multiple times and he turtled like the coward he is,” he wrote on Twitter.

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P.K. Subban tweeted calling Panetta a fraud. 

“They don’t call the east coast league [ECHL] the jungle because my brother and the other black players are the monkeys! Hey [Jacob Panetta], 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 are changing,” the New Jersey Devils defenseman tweeted. 

“Now not just the hockey world knows your true colours… your hometown of Belleville knows, your family, and friends know you’re a fraud ..with everything that has gone on in the past couple years in the world I’ll say with all due respect to everyone who has an opinion, this isn’t a mistake. We all know what’s ok and what’s not. Even your own teammates wanted to see you get your clock cleaned. This happens a lot and it never gets exposed in the lower leagues. One thing that I love about this is Jordan’s teammates standing in there and showing support. Love that.”

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The Icemen further said that they are cooperating with the ECHL investigation and “intend to make comments and decisions” after the review is completed.

“Though the investigation and review is ongoing at the league level, the Jacksonville Icemen will be releasing the player involved effective immediately and will continue our mission of sharing our love of community and hockey. On behalf of the entire Icemen organization, we apologize to any one who was offended and look forward to beginning the process of healing together as one. Thank you.”