Icemen players release statement in support of Panetta after racist suspension

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In a tweet on Friday, the Jacksonville Iceman players shared a statement supporting their former teammate Jacob Panetta, the ECHL player who was suspended for the remainder of the season after leading what was seen as a gesture racist towards Jordan Subban, who is black.

The tweet, which was posted on the unverified Twitter account of Derek Lodermeier, a former teammate of Panetta, includes a lengthy “official statement from the players”. The statement says in part that Panetta’s actions were taken “not the way they were meant to be.”

The players’ statement goes on to say that “we have seen Jacob make this (gesture) many times before to those who are not of color” and “these perceived gestures do not reflect or represent our friend and teammate whom we have come to admire. and to be respected.”

A video of the incident has surfaced on social media showing Panetta making gestures in a way that could be perceived as an imitation of a monkey in the direction of Subban, an action widely recognized as dehumanizing and racist when she is directed at a black person, after an initial scrum in the corner in which both players were involved. A fight between the two teams ensued immediately after the gesture.

Panetta was released by Jacksonville on Sunday, a day after his actions toward Subban. Panetta said her actions were “not racially motivated.”

The ECHL suspended Panetta for the remainder of the season on Thursday.

Panetta, 26, will be able to seek a reduction in the suspension and reinstatement after March 17, pending the completion of a learning experience conducted in conjunction with the NHL’s Player Inclusion Committee.

Jacksonville is affiliated with the New York Rangers and South Carolina is an affiliate of the Washington Capitals.

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