Flames Investigating Allegation Bill Peters Used Racial Slurs

Calgary's GM said the team is looking into an accusation that head coach Bill Peters directed racial slurs toward a Nigerian-born hockey player Akim Aliu "several times."

PITTSBURGH — Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving said the team is looking into an accusation that head coach Bill Peters directed racial slurs toward a Nigerian-born hockey player a decade ago in the minor leagues, then arranged for the player’s demotion when he complained.

Akim Aliu tweeted Monday that Peters “dropped the N bomb several times towards me in the dressing room in my rookie year because he didn’t like my choice of music.” Aliu said he “rebelled against him,” and Peters responded by asking Chicago Blackhawks executives John McDonough and Stan Bowman to send Aliu to a lower minor league level.

Not very surprising the things we’re hearing about Babcock. Apple doesn’t fall far from the Tree, same sort of deal with his protege in YYC. Dropped the N bomb several times towards me in the dressing room in my rookie year because he didn’t like my choice of music. First one to

— Akim “Dreamer” Olumide Aliu (@Dreamer_Aliu78) November 26, 2019

admit I rebelled against him. Wouldn’t you? And instead of remedying the situation, he wrote a letter to John McDonough and Stan Bowman to have me sent down to the ECHL. 20 year old on pace for 20 goals in his first pro year with zero PP/PK time was off to a great start in his

— Akim “Dreamer” Olumide Aliu (@Dreamer_Aliu78) November 26, 2019

Pro career

— Akim “Dreamer” Olumide Aliu (@Dreamer_Aliu78) November 26, 2019

The tweet did not name Peters, but referred to a “protege” of fired Toronto coach Mike Babcock’s who is now in Calgary. Babcock has been a mentor to Peters since Babcock coached him in college.

Aliu played under Peters in the Blackhawks system with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. He was demoted to the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL during the 2009-10 season. Aliu, who was born in Africa but raised in Ukraine and Canada, later played seven NHL games over two seasons with Calgary.

Peters is in his second full season as the Flames’ coach.

Treliving made a statement to reporters moments after Calgary lost to Pittsburgh 2-1 in overtime Monday.

“We’re aware of a tweet from former player Akim Aliu,” Treliving said. “And obviously, we’re playing, so I haven’t had the chance to sit down with Bill or our people internally to talk about this and get to the bottom of it. We take these matters very, very seriously.”

He added that the Flames “will address it and get back to you people once we have a chance to speak internally.”

Peters was not made available to speak with reporters after the game.