TORONTO - Sean Avery will face the music Thursday in New York.
The Dallas Stars super-pest is scheduled to meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman at 10:30 a.m. ET to explain himself in the wake of comments Tuesday that prompted an indefinite suspension.
Co-general manager Brett Hull will represent the Stars at the meeting.
Avery has come in for widespread criticism after seeking out the media prior to the Stars' game in Calgary on Tuesday and making a comment about NHLers falling in love "with my sloppy seconds."
Avery's ex-girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert, is dating Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf. The league quickly suspended Avery pending a meeting with Bettman, citing "inappropriate public comments."
The hard-nosed Phaneuf called Avery's comment "very disrespectful" and applauded the league's quick action. Even the Stars publicly denounced Avery's crude comments.
"Sean crossed that line," Stars head coach Dave Tippett said.
Commentator Don Cherry, at an event to launch a hockey DVD, said Wednesday that Avery had forced Bettman's hand.
"It's so sad and it's really a mark against hockey," Cherry said of Avery's outburst. "We are not like that. Hockey players are not into the drugs, we've had over 3,000 tests in three years, only one's been caught, we don't shoot one another, we don't take drugs, we don't stab one another.
"And for him to come out like that, it's a sad, sad situation."
