PETA on Thursday called on the Anaheim Ducks to suspend defenseman Clayton Stoner, who faces charges in Canada of illegally obtaining a license to shoot a grizzly bear.
The animal rights group sent a letter to Ducks president and GM Bob Murray, calling for the team to suspend Stoner for the rest of the season and for the defenseman to be required to take an empathy course similar to one NFL quarterback Mike Vick took after he was convicted on dogfighting charges.
"PETA is calling on the Anaheim Ducks to suspend Clayton Stoner, send him to empathy school, and show that breaking the law and abusing animals will not be tolerated in the NHL," said Ingrid Newkirk, the president of the organization.
In the letter dated Thursday, PETA writes to Murray that, "the vast majority of NHL fans are appalled by the actions of players who abuse others, and they want their teams to take decisive action to keep athletes who bend or break the law and/or are cruel to women, children, animals, or anyone else off the rink.
"Mr. Stoner has shown himself to be a bad role model and a man who lacks empathy and compassion. By suspending him, you'd send the clear message that bullying and abusing any individual is not tolerated by your organization."
PETA's suspension demand comes days after a small group of vocal protesters gathered outside the Honda Center, also calling for Stoner to be suspended.
While Ducks fans entered the rink for their home opener Monday against Vancouver, about 20 protesters held signs and shouted slogans condemning Stoner. He faces five charges related to the 2013 hunt on British Columbia's central coast.
Wildlife groups and First Nations leaders have been outraged by Stoner's killing of the bear, named Cheeky. Stoner defended his actions at the time when graphic photos of the kill were publicized, but he hasn't commented recently.
Stoner grew up on Vancouver Island but hasn't lived in the province full time for several years, which authorities say made him ineligible for the hunting license used to take the bear. He played for the Minnesota Wild at the time of the shooting.
Stoner, 30, faces two counts of knowingly making a false statement to obtain a hunting license and one count apiece of hunting without a license, hunting out of season and unlawful possession of dead wildlife. His case is set for Nov. 13 in Vancouver.
Stoner is beginning his sixth full NHL season and his second with Anaheim after signing a four-year, $13 million deal as a free agent before last season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.