On Monday evening during the Calgary Flames’ game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, former NHL forward Akim Aliu made a series of tweets accusing Flames head coach Bill Peters of using racist comments towards Aliu during the 2009-10 season.
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 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 Aliu (@Dreamer_Aliu78) November 26, 2019
Aliu played for Peters with the American Hockey League’s Rockford Ice Hogs (Chicago’s farm team) during the 2009-10 season – Peters was head coach, Aliu a first year pro. Aliu had 11 goals and 17 points in 48 games with Rockford, but was reassigned to the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye in early March where he finished the season with 5 goals and 14 points in 13 ECHL games.
Peter was not made available to the media after Friday’s game, as is customary. Flames general manager Brad Treliving addressed the assembled media regarding the accusations:
During tonight’s game I was made aware of a tweet from former player Akim Aliu. And obviously we were playing so I haven’t had a chance to sit down with Bill or our people internally to talk about this and get to the bottom of it. I would say we take these matters very, very seriously. And so until such time as we have a chance to speak about it internally we obviously wanted to address you people. We’re aware of it, made aware of it during the game here this evening, and like I said, I haven’t had a chance to talk to Bill. I will be doing that. And until such time, we won’t have any further comment about it. We will address it and get back to you people once we have a chance to speak internally.
Peters is in his second season as head coach of the Flames after being hired in April 2018 after leaving the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Flames conclude their road trip on Wednesday night in Buffalo against the Sabres.
