Carson Biere is 'kicked off' from Mercyhurst University hockey team, two weeks after being charged

Carson Briere - the son of Philadelphia Flyers interim general manager Danny Briere - has been cut from his college hockey team, two weeks after facing several charges for pushing an empty wheelchair down a staircase at a bar in Pennsylvania. 

The university, which is located on Lake Erie, announced the 23-year-old's expulsion from the team in a statement on Monday. 

'Carson Briere has been removed from the Mercyhurst University Men's Ice Hockey Team,' the team's account disclosed on Twitter. 'Mercyhurst cannot comment further on the matter.'

Briere is facing misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief resulting in damage to property and a summary count of disorderly conduct. 

Patrick Carrozzi, listed as a senior member of the school's lacrosse team, faces the same three charges, according to documents filed with District Judge Sue Mack. The two are scheduled to appear in court on May 22.

Carson Briere (L), the son of Flyers interim GM Danny Briere (R), has been dismissed from the Mercyhurst University hockey team after being caught pushing an empty wheelchair down a flight of stairs at a bar in Erie, Pennsylvania, on March 20

Video posted to social media on March 20 showed Briere and now-former teammate Patrick Carrozzi pushing an empty wheelchair down the stairs at Sullivan's Pub and Eatery in Erie, Pennsylvania

Sydney Benes, 22, who lost her legs in a 2021 car accident, was using the restroom downstairs at Sullivan's when she found her wheelchair at the bottom of the staircase, damaged

Briere and Carrozzi were initially caught on surveillance footage at the top of a staircase at Sullivan's Pub and Eatery, where they push the wheelchair down the steps on March 11. 

Police say their actions posed a potential danger to anyone coming up the stairs, while also creating a hazardous condition by blocking the staircase.

The wheelchair's owner, identified as Sydney Benes, filed a complaint saying the fall down the stairs damaged the left brake handle, broke the right arm rest's plastic molding, bent a rear handle and caused the wheels to drag when moving forward. Benes said the wheelchair was purchased a year ago, costing $2,000. 

Initially, after news broke out, Briere, Carrozzi and another Mercyhurst athlete were placed on interim suspension, while the school investigated the matter. However, all three are believed to have warranted enough support to continue their education at the private, Roman Catholic university. 

Two weeks, after making headlines for the wrong reasons, Briere apologized in a statement released through the NHL's Flyers.

'I am deeply sorry for my behavior on Saturday,' he said. 'There is no excuse for my actions, and I will do whatever I can to make up for this serious lack of judgment.'

Briere apologized for his reckless behavior last month but Benes previously said that she thought the hockey player's apology was 'insincere'

Benes (L) and Nathaniel Sanders, the security manager at Sullivan’s Pub

Briere was previously ousted from Arizona State's hockey club in 2019 for violating team rules 

Danny Briere, who was promoted to run the Flyers after Chuck Fletcher was fired on March 10, said he was shocked to see his son's actions and called them 'inexcusable,' while saying his son 'accepts full responsibility for his behavior.'

Mercyhurst previously released a statement saying the actions displayed in the video fall short of the school's 'belief in the inherent dignity of each person,' adding the school's 'tradition also reminds us that students and all people who make poor choices deserve opportunities to learn, change behaviors and atone for harmful actions.'

Carson Briere previously was dismissed from Arizona State's hockey club in 2019 for what the school called a violation of team rules.