New York, NY – Florida Panthers forward Krys Barch was suspended for one game by the National Hockey League on Thursday.
Barch, who is Caucasian, uttered a racial remark in the direction of Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban, who is of African-Canadian descent, on Saturday night.
"Mr. Barch has admitted making the remark, but denies that the comment was racially motivated," said Colin Campbell, senior executive vice president of hockey operations. "While we accept Mr. Barch's assertion, as a player in the National Hockey League, he must be held accountable for making a comment that, in the context in which it was made, and in light of the entirety of the circumstances, was offensive and unacceptable."
The Miami Herald reported Wednesday that linesman Darren Gibbs was the only official who overheard the comment, spoken as Subban was leaving the ice.
Barch was given a 10-minute misconduct and was ejected, but the Panthers won 3-2.
"I know myself and what I said, it may have been inappropriate, but it was nowhere along the lines of racial slur," Barch said in an apology issued after the Panthers' Thursday practice ahead of a game with the New York Rangers. "The things I said were pretty explicit, maybe not for kids' ears. That's why I really can't repeat what I said."
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