• Mercyhurst University athlete was suspended from his hockey team after pushing a wheelchair down the stairs. 
  • Carson Briere is the son of Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere.
  • The wheelchair belonged to a double amputee who was being carried to the bathroom when the incident occurred.

The son of a professional ice hockey manager has been suspended from his college hockey team after a video of him pushing an empty wheelchair down the stairs of a nightclub went viral.

Mercyhurst University athlete Carson Briere, son of Philadelphia Flyers interim general manager Daniel Briere, was filmed pushing an empty wheelchair down the stairs of Sullivans Pub in Erie, Pennsylvania.

 

He has been suspended from the Mercyhurst men's hockey team along with two other teammates who are seen in the viral video. They have not been named.

Brier has apologized for his actions, saying, "I am deeply sorry for my behavior on Saturday, adding, "There is no excuse for my actions, and I will do whatever I can to make up for this serious lack of judgment, per AP.

In a statement posted by Mercyhurst University to their Facebook page, they said Briere's actions "make our hearts heavy and fall short of the Mercy belief in the inherent dignity of each person."

They added, "we pray for and are in solidary with the victim and all persons with disabilities who rightfully find actions like these to be deeply offensive."

The wheelchair belonged to double amputee Sydney Benes. At the time of the incident, she had left her wheelchair at the top of the stairs whilst her friend Julia Zukowski, who posted the video to Twitter, carried her to the bathroom.

Zukowski also set up a GoFundMe for Benes with a goal of fundraising $1,500 to replace the broken wheelchair.

 

Zukowski has raised nearly $9,000, and Benes has announced that she will be using the money to replace her chair but that all extra funds will go "to the disabled community and to people who really need the help."

Writing on Twitter, Benes said, "I'm so thankful for all of Sullivan's help in this situation and the kind comments I see on Julia's post. I swear I really don't wanna keep a cent of the donated money, I'd much rather give it to those who need it."

In another tweet, she adds that the security staff at Sullivan's made Carson come apologize, but Benes said it felt "very insincere." After the forced apology, she alleges the college athlete said, "Do I still have to go?" after being asked to leave the bar.

Read the original article on Insider