Avery Denies Calling Laraque a ‘Monkey’

Sean Avery on Thursday denied an accusation by Edmonton’s Georges Laraque that the King forward called him a “monkey” during Tuesday’s game.

Avery, whose comments demeaning French Canadian players three weeks ago earned him a reprimand from the NHL, insisted he had said nothing and that Laraque, who is black and French Canadian, was lying.

“[He] fabricated the whole thing,” Avery said after morning practice Thursday.

“I have no idea why he would do that,” he added. “I heard about it after the game and was surprised.”

The uproar comes one day after the Oilers filed a report with the NHL about the alleged incident. The league is not expected to pursue the matter because of a lack of evidence.

“Sean indicated to us that he didn’t say anything like that,” King General Manager Dave Taylor said. “Other [King] players on the ice said there was some barking between the two of them, but nothing like that was said.

“I talked with the league a couple times [Wednesday] and I talked with [Edmonton General Manager] Kevin Lowe. As far as the league is concerned, there is no evidence. As far as we’re concerned, it is a dead issue.”

According to published reports Thursday, Laraque conceded that he jumped on the ice in the second period intent on fighting Avery, who had just hit the Oilers’ Ales Hemsky. Laraque said that Avery refused to fight and called him a “monkey.”

“Things were said that I’m not happy about,” said Laraque, who played his first NHL game with the Oilers in the 1997-98 season. “I’m going to let the league deal with it.”

He also said that it was the first time he has dealt with a racial comment since being in the league.

On Thursday, Laraque said, “You got to think before you act. At some point, you always hope a guy apologizes, but you can’t tell him what to do.”

Avery, though, was adamant that there was no truth to the allegation. “I think I saw him on one shift [Tuesday],” Avery said. “He wanted to fight, but I had other concerns on the ice. I didn’t say anything to him. I was concerned with checking [the Oilers’] top line, not with what a fourth-line guy was doing.”

It was also learned Thursday that Edmonton Coach Craig MacTavish, on hearing about the incident, sought out Avery at Staples Center and an intense confrontation ensued.

In addition, a group of Oilers contended that they were prepared to -- but eventually didn’t -- confront Avery on the parking ramp.

MacTavish on Thursday was unrepentant for personally confronting Avery.

“We live in a game and a society where the tolerance for this kind of behavior is exactly where it should be ... zero tolerance,” MacTavish said.

Colin Campbell, NHL director of operations, had contacted the Kings and Oilers Wednesday, but said that the league could not do anything given that there was no evidence that the alleged remark was heard by either a game official or another player.

Laraque, when asked why he didn’t deal with the matter directly, said, “You have to be careful now. That’s why I’m letting the league deal with it. That’s better than me dealing with it because if I miss the whole season, would it be worth it?”