Carson Brière, son of interim Flyers GM Daniel Brière, apologizes for wheelchair accident in Erie

Mercyhurst University men’s hockey player Carson Brière — son of Flyers interim general manager Danny Brière and a 17-year NHL veteran — has apologized for pushing an empty wheelchair down the stairs.

“I deeply regret my behavior on Saturday,” Brière wrote in a statement. “There is no excuse for my actions and I will do everything in my power to make up for this serious lapse in judgment.”

A video of the incident was posted online Tuesday afternoon by a Twitter user who claimed to know the owner of the wheelchair. A user who identified herself as Julia Zukowski publicly accused Brière of being a man pushing a wheelchair.

Erie’s school of about 3,000 students said its office of student conduct and police and security department are investigating. A Mercyhurst spokeswoman said the investigation could take weeks, but the school’s initial investigation found that Brière and the two others who were with him at the time of the incident are athletes. According to school policy, all three students have been placed on temporary suspension from their groups while waiting for the results of the study.

The Inquirer could not reach Zukowski for comment.

Rick Filippi, one of the owners of Sullivan’s Pub and a former mayor of Erie, confirmed. Erie Times-News that the incident happened in a bar.

The video, which is time-stamped on Saturday night and shows a clear view of the top of the stairs of what appears to be a bar, shows two young men talking. Let’s sit in the wheelchair for a bit before getting out and going down the stairs. After seeing a wheelchair reach the bottom of the stairs, both men walk into a room where people are dancing.

The original Twitter post said the owner of the wheelchair had left it at the top of the stairs because he needed to be carried to the downstairs bathroom. The owner of the wheelchair is considering legal action and decides to remain anonymous for the time being, says the tweet.

The video drew strong reactions, with many pointing out how expensive wheelchairs are even with insurance.

Mercyhurst responded to Brière’s apology, saying in a statement that his actions were inconsistent with the school’s belief in “inheriting the dignity of every human being.” The school, read the statement, stands in solidarity with the victim and all disabled people who found the case offensive.

“Our tradition of mercy also reminds us that students and all people who make bad choices deserve the opportunity to learn, change their behavior, and atone for harmful actions,” the school said.

However, the statement should not be taken to mean that Brière will not face discipline from the school, according to the spokesperson, who did not provide further details.

Brière has played men’s hockey at Mercyhurst, an NCAA Division I program, from the 2020-21 season and praised of his contributions.

Carson Brière, who originally played at Arizona State University, was kicked off the men’s ice hockey team after the first semester for violating team rules.

Brière said in an interview with College Hockey News he simply wasn’t committed to hockey at the time.

“I was just going out; I didn’t take hockey seriously, Brière told CHN. “Too much partying. That’s probably the best way to put it.”

In a statement Wednesday, Danny Brière said his son takes full responsibility for his behavior.

“I was shocked to see Carson’s actions in the video that was shared on social media yesterday,” he wrote. “They are unforgivable and completely against our family values / treat people with respect.”