Sports
Son of Flyers GM Kicked Off Hockey Team After Wheelchair Pushing Video
Carson Brière was removed from Mercyhurst University's hockey team after charges were filed in connection with the viral incident.
PHILADELPHIA — The son of interim Flyer General Manager Daniel Brière will no longer be lacing up and donning the Mercyhurst University sweater after footage of him and another pushing an empty wheelchair down stairs went viral.
The university said Monday that Carson Brière, 23, was removed from its hockey team.
Carson Brière was seen on video with another person — 21-year-old Patrick Carrozzi, who also plays hockey at the school — pushing the chair down a flight of stairs at Sullivan's Bar in Erie on March 11.
Find out what's happening in Philadelphiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Carson Brière has been removed from the Mercyhurst University Men's Ice Hockey Team," the university announced on Monday. "Mercyhurst cannot comment further on this matter."
It's unclear if Carrozzi was removed from the team as well.
Find out what's happening in Philadelphiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Brière was suspended from the team after video of the incident went viral.
He was later charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and conspiracy to commit criminal mischief.
Carrozzi has been charged with the same crimes, court records show.
The chair belonged to Sydney Benes, who lost her legs in a 2021 car crash and has been documenting her recovery on social media since August 2022.
The university itself issued a statement in which Carson Brière apologized, calling the moment a "serious lack of judgement."
CollegeHockeyNew.com reports this is not the first time Carson Brière has been subject to scrutiny.
He initially attended and played for Arizona State, but was dismissed for violating team rules, according to the outlet.
According to the video's timestamp, the incident occurred at about 11:38 p.m. on Saturday, about a day after Daniel Brière was named the Flyers interim General Manager.
Daniel Brière previously served as the special assistant to the general manager for part of the 2021-22 season, ESPN reports.
His father spent 18 seasons with various NHL teams, including the Flyers.
"I was shocked to see Carson’s actions in the video that was shared on social media yesterday,” Daniel Brière wrote. "They are inexcusable and run completely counter to our family’s values of treating people with respect."
Carson Brière and Carrozi are scheduled for May 22 preliminary hearings, court records show.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
