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Minor league hockey player suspended, released after being accused of racist taunt

An incident in a minor league hockey game Saturday night has gotten the attention of the entire NHL.

Jacob Panetta, a defenseman for the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen, is being accused of a racist taunt toward South Carolina Stingrays blueliner Jordan 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.

Panetta, who is White, was suspended indefinitely by the ECHL Sunday and later released by the Icemen.