Jalen Smereck to sit out until UHL bans player who made racist gesture

Jalen Smereck, who was the target of a racist gesture in the Ukrainian Hockey League over the weekend, says he won't take the ice again until the player who directed the taunt toward him is expelled.

Smereck shared his thoughts Tuesday on Instagram after receiving support from around the hockey world following the incident.

Deniskin, who plays for HK Kremenchuk, mimed the peeling and eating of a banana in Smereck's direction during a game Sunday.

The IIHF condemned the act the next day. The governing body of hockey pledged that the matter will be investigated and Deniskin will be sanctioned if necessary. UHL general manager Eugene Kolychev said he plans to monitor the probe, which the country's hockey federation will conduct.

Smereck, who is African American, is playing overseas after spending a handful of seasons in the AHL and ECHL.