Jacob Panetta denies making racial gestures against Jordan Subban in one on one interview

In case you missed it this past weekend, ECHL defenseman Jacob Panetta was accused by opponent Jordan Subban, younger brother of NHLers P.K. Subban and Malcolm Subban, of making a racial gesture at him during an on ice altercation. 

Subban contends that Panetta mocked him and made an outwardly racist gesture of miming Subban being a monkey.

Needless to say that's absolutely disgusting behaviour and, frankly, it shocks me to learn that people still behave this way let alone think this way in 2022. However, Panetta contends that he did NOT intend for his gesture to be perceived that way and was instead trying to mimic Subban "acting like a tough guy."

I'll let you be the judge:

Panetta issued a video on Twitter again explaining that he wasn't making a "monkey" gesture, he was in fact mocking Subban as a tough guy ala Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson.

Here's Panetta's explanation:

Honestly... I'm beginning to think this entire fiasco was just a terrible misunderstanding...

If I'm wrong I stand to be corrected of course, but Panetta seems sincere to me. As he does in his one on one interview with the Toronto Sun's Michael Traikos.

More from Panetta:

“I heard him in the hallway and I kind of clued in that it was perceived like that and he took it that way,” said Panetta. “I was kind of in shock. It’s not my character. It’s not what I intended. That thought never crossed my mind.

“It’s tough hearing things. But actions are perceived differently by everyone. Unfortunately, those actions were perceived as racial. I want to emphasize that that was never my intention. My parents raised me to treat people with the utmost respect. That’s exactly what was going through my mind and what’s been going through my mind for the past 36 hours or so.”

“I’m sure it’s caused a lot of mental and emotional damage to Jordan and his family. It’s something that I’m sincerely sorry for,” said Panetta. “I just want to emphasize again that I’m sorry that he viewed it that way and I’m sorry for all the anger and hurt I’ve caused him and anyone else in the (arena) or anyone that’s had a chance to view it on social media.”

“It’s definitely been a great teaching point for me,” said Panetta. “Even though those gestures were never meant to be racial, I’ve definitely learned that actions can be perceived differently and taken in different way. I just want to keep learning from it. I hope that we can have a conversation and I can talk to (Subban) and begin to work through this.”

Jacob Panetta

It's worth noting that Panetta has been dropped from his contract with the Jacksonville Icemen.