Sean Avery released a statement earlier today apologizing for the comments he made yesterday prior to the Dallas Stars game against the Calgary Flames.

Sean Avery’s Statement:

“I would like to sincerely apologize for my off-color remarks to the press yesterday from Calgary.

“I should not have made those comments and I recognize that they were inappropriate. It was a bad attempt to build excitement for the game, but I am now acutely aware of how hurtful my actions were. I caused unnecessary embarrassment to my peers as well as people I have been close with in the past.

“I apologize for offending the great fans of the NHL, the Commissioner, my teammates, my coaching staff and the Dallas Stars Management and Ownership. As many of you know, I like to mix it up on and off the ice from time to time, but understand that this time I took it too far.”

After witnessing the antics of Sean Avery over the past few seasons it is hard to believe he is actually contrite, and this time he might have completely incinerated any bridges that might lead him back to the Dallas Stars locker room. Coach Dave Tippett expressed his own doubt that Avery might one day be a part of the team, stating that he finds it hard to believe than Sean Avery can come back to the team and find that continuity again. Strong words from the coach, but he has first hand knowledge of just what effect Avery’s actions have had on the rest of the team, and so you have to believe that there is some serious displeasure with Sean Avery right now in the Dallas Stars dressing room.

It is unsurprisingly really. I find it difficult to believe that Sean Avery would have been welcomed with open arms by too many guys in the Dallas Stars locker room to begin with. Sure, they are professionals, and all of them want to win and they recognize that Avery has the potential to be a factor on any given night, so they have grudgingly accepted him up until now. But surely they harbor their own private opinions about his past behavior, and many have probably been on the receiving end of one of his vicious on-ice barbs at one time or another. That is, of course, merely speculation on my part, but I’ve played against my share of idiots in various sports over the years, and I know how I’d feel if I wound up playing with them one day.

That’s about all I have to say about Sean Avery for now. He wants to be a controversial figure, and he has certainly got his wish as hockey media across North America are abuzz with his actions. I won’t indulge his ego any further until the NHL and the Dallas Stars determine Avery’s fate.