ECHL suspends Jacob Panetta indefinitely for making racial gesture toward Jordan Subban

The ECHL has announced an indefinite suspension for Jacksonville IceMen defenseman Jacob Panetta in response to racial gestures made toward South Carolina Stingrays counterpart Jordan Subban on Saturday. The final determination of Panetta’s suspension will be made following a hearing in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.

Panetta will find it hard to defend his racist actions in Saturday night’s game, which were clearly caught on camera during overtime of the ECHL contest. The video was then shared all over the internet, most notably by the eldest Subban, NHL star P.K. Subban. 

The AHL just recently suspended San Jose Barracuda forward Krystof Hrabik for 30 games for racist actions, but it took more than a week to make that decision. The ECHL wasted no time in taking Panetta off the ice.

Panetta is in his second pro season, both with Jacksonville, after four years at Colgate University. Subban is a former NHL prospect, drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the fourth round of the 2013 Draft. He last played on an NHL contract in 2018-19 and is in his first season playing primarily in the ECHL.