NEW YORK — Sean Avery surged past camera crews and reporters Thursday, choosing to save his comments this time for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman during a three-hour disciplinary hearing.
The Stars forward was suspended indefinitely Tuesday just hours after he used a crude expression to describe former girlfriends now dating others while speaking to reporters.
Hockey’s most notorious pest came to league headquarters in midtown Manhattan to give his version of the latest events that landed him in big trouble. Now it’s up to Bettman to determine just how long Avery will be kept off the ice.
The NHL said that announcement would be made today — the same day the Stars host the Avalanche.
“I haven’t made a decision yet,” Bettman said Thursday. “I want to take the opportunity to spend a little time thinking about what transpired at the hearing and everything that I was told and that needs to be considered. I want to reflect on it.”
Avery was joined at the hearing by his agent Pat Morris, Stars general manager Brett Hull and players’ association player affairs director Glenn Healy.
NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell was also in attendance, but Bettman is handling Avery’s punishment.
“He was remorseful in what he did. It’s about all you can do,” Hull said. “I hope that we can put this all behind us and we can make sure that the league and the Stars and the NHLPA do everything to make sure that I don’t have to stand here or anyone else has to stand here and talk about stupid things like this anymore.”
Stars owner Tom Hicks was quick to support Bettman’s decision to suspend Avery, and Avery’s teammates have not rallied around him.
Footnotes.
The Hurricanes activated right wing Justin Williams (Achilles tendon) and placed defenseman Dennis Seidenberg (leg) on injured reserve.
• The Capitals recalled forward Keith Aucoin from Hershey (Pa.) and assigned forward Graham Mink to the American Hockey League affiliate.
• The Sabres placed forward Patrick Kaleta (head, neck) on IR and recalled defenseman Mike Weber from their AHL affiliate.
The Associated Press
