Dallas Stars dump Sean Avery

DALLAS, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- The Dallas Stars announced Sunday that controversial forward Sean Avery will never again play for the NHL franchise.

Avery, 28, was suspended by the league for six games without pay this month for crude comments he made to reporters regarding his former girlfriends dating other hockey players.

He was eligible to return to the club Sunday after the six-game ban expired, but the club and Avery's representatives determined it was not possible for him to rejoin his teammates.

"Sean needs to focus on his own well-being while the Stars hockey team must focus on playing hockey and competing for a playoff spot," Co-General Manager Brett Hull said on the team's Web site. "Everyone understands that Sean will not return to the Dallas Stars. We all need to move forward."

Avery, who agreed to seek professional anger-management treatment, was in the first of a four-year, $15.5 million deal.

He had three goals, seven assists and 77 penalty minutes in 23 games.