ECHL player Jacob Panetta gets season ban for racial gesture

The ECHL has suspended former Jacksonville Icemen forward Jacob Panetta for the remainder of the 2021-22 season for what the league called «a racial gesture» toward South Carolina Stingrays defenseman Jordan Subban last Saturday.

Panetta, 26, can ask for a reduction of that 38-game suspension and apply for reinstatement to the ECHL after March 17, «pending successful completion of a learning experience conducted in conjunction with the National Hockey League's Player Inclusion Committee.»

The Icemen announced on Sunday that they had released Panetta following the ECHL's decision to suspend him indefinitely, pending its investigation.

The incident happened in overtime. South Carolina's Andrew Cherniwchan had collided with Jacksonville goalie Justin Kapelmaster, sparking a skirmish between the teams. According to Subban, he tried to engage Panetta in a fight. Panetta responded by taunting Subban, who is Black.

«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,» Subban tweeted.

A Jacksonville fan captured video of the incident, and it went viral after it was shared by New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban, who is Jordan's older brother.

«They don't call the East Coast League 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,» P.K. Subban tweeted to his 1 million followers.

Panetta released a video statement this week claiming that he made «a tough guy, bodybuilder gesture» toward Subban and said there is footage of him making «the