A member of a Nova Scotia university hockey team has taken responsibility for making comments that led to a bench-clearing brawl last weekend.
Acadia University's Rodney Southam admitted to making a comment about sexual assault to an opposing player during a physical confrontation when playing against the St. Francis Xavier X-Men on Saturday night.
Southam claims in a statement issued late Thursday night to have been unaware that Sam Studnicka, the target of his comment, has a sexual assault survivor in his family.
A brawl broke out between hockey players from Acadia University and St. Francis Xavier University, in Wolfville, N.S., on Saturday, Feb. 2.
"Immediately after my comments to Sam, I realized something more was happening because of the reaction from the team and surrounding coaches," said Southam.
"I take full responsibility for saying something I should never have said."
The brawl led to five Axemen players, eight X-Men and both head coaches being ejected. Video of the fight went viral.
Sam Studnicka is the brother of Niagara Icedogs player, Jack Studnicka.