Replace: Flames coach Invoice Peters releases assertion, apologizes ‘for offensive language’

This story has been up to date. For the latest updates, see under.
Former NHLer Akim Aliu has accused Calgary Flames coach Invoice Peters of directing racial slurs at him whereas Aliu was a rookie with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.
Aliu, 30, made the allegations on Twitter Monday, stating that Peters “dropped the N bomb a number of instances in direction of me within the dressing room” throughout Aliu’s rookie season as a result of Peters “didn’t like my alternative of music.” Aliu, who was born in Nigeria however raised in Ukraine and Canada, continued by stating that he rebelled in opposition to Peters, who Aliu claimed wrote a letter to Chicago Blackhawks president and CEO John McDonough and vp and GM Stan Bowman to have the then-20-year-old demoted to the ECHL.
Peters was not made accessible to media Monday following the Flames’ Three-2 time beyond regulation loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, throughout which Aliu’s feedback got here to gentle, however Calgary GM Brad Treliving addressed the scenario post-game.
“Throughout tonight’s sport I used to be made conscious of a Tweet from former participant Akim Aliu,” Treliving stated. “Clearly, we have been taking part in so I haven’t had an opportunity to sit down down with Invoice or our individuals internally to speak about this and unravel it. I’d say we take these issues very, very critically. So, till such time as we have now an opportunity to talk about it internally, we clearly needed to handle you individuals.
“We understand it,” Treliving continued. “We have been made conscious of it throughout the sport this night. I haven’t had an opportunity to speak to Invoice. I shall be doing that. Till such time we received’t have any additional touch upon it. However we are going to handle it and get again to you individuals as soon as we have now an opportunity to talk internally.”
In a written assertion following the sport, Treliving added that the group needs to “full a full and correct investigation earlier than we offer any additional feedback on the matter.” TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Tuesday morning that the NHL head workplace has contacted the Flames and “additional discussions” are anticipated.
Aliu’s allegations come within the wake of a current report that now-former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock requested then-rookie Mitch Marner to rank teammates primarily based on their work ethic and subsequently shared Marner’s checklist with teammates. Aliu didn’t consult with Peters by title, however stated he wasn’t shocked by the report of Babcock’s habits as a result of the “apple doesn’t fall removed from the tree, similar kind of cope with (Babcock’s) protege in (Calgary.)” Peters was one among Babcock’s assistants with the Spokane Chiefs within the late-1990s and later spent three seasons as Babcock’s assistant with the Detroit Pink Wings from 2011-12 to 2013-14.
Aliu, who was drafted 56th total by the Blackhawks in 2007, had transient forays into the AHL previous to his rookie season, scoring three targets in eight video games throughout the common season and playoffs. In 2009-10, his first full skilled season, Aliu scored 11 targets and 17 factors in 48 video games with the IceHogs and spent 13 video games with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye, the place he scored 5 targets and 14 factors.
After the 2009-10 marketing campaign, Aliu was traded by the Blackhawks to the Atlanta Thrashers alongside Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Keen and Brent Sopel. Aliu proceeded to spend a lot of the subsequent a number of seasons within the AHL, together with prolonged stays with the Flames’ affiliate. All seven of Aliu’s profession NHL contests have been performed with the Flames throughout the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, a number of years earlier than Peters’ tenure as Calgary’s coach started. Aliu has since performed in Sweden, Russia and Slovakia, along with his final cease coming with the ECHL’s Orlando Photo voltaic Bears final season.
UPDATE (Nov. 26): The NHL has launched the next assertion: “The habits that has been alleged is repugnant and unacceptable. We may have no additional remark till we have now had a chance to look into the matter extra totally.”
UPDATE (Nov. 27, 12 p.m. ET): Regardless of reviews Peters had been fired by the Flames, Treliving has acknowledged that the group’s investigation into Peters’ conduct is constant. Peters, who made the journey with the group to Buffalo, won’t be behind the bench when the Flames play the Sabres Wednesday evening. Affiliate coach Geoff Ward will assume teaching duties.
Within the wake of the allegations made by Aliu, which have been corroborated by two of Aliu’s teammates in a report by TSN’s Frank Serravalli, former NHL defenseman Michal Jordan alleged that he was kicked by Peters whereas a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. Jordan alleged that Peters additionally struck one other participant within the head. Chatting with reporters Wednesday, present Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour, who was Peters’ assistant from 2014-15 to 2017-18, informed reporters that the incident Jordan described “positively occurred.”
UPDATE (Nov. 27, 9:15 p.m. ET): In a press release launched Wednesday evening, addressed to Treliving, Peters apologized to the Calgary GM and the Flames group “for offensive language I utilized in knowledgeable setting a decade in the past.”
The letter, which was posted to social media by TSN’s Bob McKenzie, continued: “The assertion was made in a second of frustration and doesn’t mirror my private values. After the incident, I used to be rightfully challenged about my use of language, and I instantly returned to the dressing room to apologize to the group. I’ve regretted the incident because it occurred, and I now additionally apologize to anybody negatively effected by my phrases.
“I’m conscious that there isn’t a excuse for language that’s offensive. I meant no disrespect in what I stated, and it was not directed at anybody particularly. However, that doesn’t matter; it was hurtful and demeaning. I’m really sorry.”
Peters added that he accepts “the truth of his actions” and that “we should attempt to behave with integrity, and to take accountability for what we are saying and do.” He additionally acknowledged he appreciated and supported the investigation being undertaken by Treliving and the Flames.
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