Edmonton, AB -- (Sports Network) - Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery issued an apology Wednesday for derogatory comments made the previous day about his ex-girlfriends dating other players in the league.

The comments led to an indefinite suspension by the National Hockey League, pending Avery's hearing with commissioner Gary Bettman. That is expected to come Thursday.

"I would like to sincerely apologize for my off-color remarks to the press yesterday from Calgary," Avery said in a statement obtained by SportingNews.com. "I should not have made those comments, and I recognize that they were inappropriate. It was a bad attempt to build excitement for the game, but I am now acutely aware of how hurtful my actions were. I caused unnecessary embarrassment to my peers, as well as people I have been close with in the past.

"I apologize for offending the great fans of the NHL, the commissioner, my teammates, my coaching staff and the Dallas Stars management and ownership. As many of you know, I like to mix it up on and off the ice from time to time, but understand that this time I took it too far."

Avery made his comments following a skating session in Calgary Tuesday morning, ahead of a night game with the Flames.

"I'm really happy to be back in Calgary; I love Canada," Avery said before television cameras. "I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my (former girlfriends). I don't know what that's about, but enjoy the game tonight."

Avery was linked romantically to model Rachel Hunter; and his ex-girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert, best known for her role on the Fox show "24", is dating Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf.

After Calgary lost to Dallas, 3-1, on Tuesday, Phaneuf called Avery's comments "disrespectful" and said he agreed with the way the league took action.

Avery, 28, who inked a four-year contract worth $15.5 million over the summer after spending the past one-plus seasons with the New York Rangers, has posted three goals and seven assists in 23 games this season.

In 402 career games with the Red Wings, Kings, Rangers and Stars, Avery has collected 68 goals, 177 points and 1,144 minutes in penalties.

The comments Avery made Tuesday were just the latest in a line of deplorable acts for the veteran left wing. During a playoff series this past April, he used a controversial tactic to screen the opposing goaltender, namely facing New Jersey's Martin Brodeur and waving his hands and stick in front of the netminder in an attempt to distract him and block his view.

The following day, the NHL issued an interpretation of the league's unsportsmanlike conduct rule to cover Avery's actions.