Flyers' Simmonds target of racial attack

LONDON, Ontario, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman condemned an apparent racial incident in which a fan threw a banana onto the ice at the pre-season game in London, Ontario.

Philadelphia's Wayne Simmonds, who is black, was about to make an attempt during a shootout Thursday when the banana was thrown from the stands.

"I don't know if it had anything to do with the fact I'm black," Simmonds said following the game. "I certainly hope not. When you're black, you kind of expect [racist] things. You learn to deal with it."

Bettman issued a statement Friday decrying the incident.

"We have millions of great fans who show tremendous respect for our players and for the game," Bettman said. "The obviously stupid and ignorant action by one individual is in no way representative of our fans or the people of London, Ontario."

Simmonds is in his first season with Philadelphia, joining the team after a June trade with Los Angeles. He's in his fourth NHL season. Simmonds has scored 39 goals and assisted on 54 others in 240 regular-season games.

He had a goal in Thursday's game, which Detroit won 4-3 in the shootout. Simmonds' goal with 53 seconds left led to the shootout