Bill Peters out as Calgary Flames head coach
By Sean LeahyNov 29, 2019, 12:00 PM EST
Bill Peters has resigned as head coach of the Calgary Flames.
"Effective immediately, Bill Peters is no longer a member of the Calgary Flames organization," Flames general manager Brad Treliving announced Friday. Assistant Geoff Ward, who coached the team Wednesday night in Buffalo, has been named interim head coach.
The news comes days after former players came forward with accusations of racial slurs and physical abuse against Peters.
Akim Aliu played for Peters with the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs in 2008-09 and 2009-10. On Twitter Monday night Aliu, who spent last season with the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears, alleged that the head coach used a racial slur "several times" because he did not like the choice of music being played in the dressing room.
Speaking to TSN's Frank Seravalli on Tuesday, Aliu expanded on his Tweets:
"He walked in before a morning pre-game skate and said 'Hey Akim, I'm sick of you playing that n—– s—.' He said 'I'm sick of hearing this n—–s f—— other n—–s in the ass stuff.'
"He then walked out like nothing ever happened. You could hear a pin drop in the room, everything went dead silent. I just sat down in my stall, didn't say a word."
The allegations were independently corroborated by Simon Pepin and Peter MacArthur, two of Aliu's teammates with the Ice Hogs.
Aliu said that when he was called into Peters' office later, there was no apology and the head coach continued to express his displeasure with the music. Weeks later, Aliu, who told TSN he did not tell the Blackhawks organization about what Peters had said, was sent down to the ECHL after the two had a confrontation during practice.
"The alleged actions by a former coach toward Akim Aliu while with the Rockford IceHogs are something we take seriously," the Blackhawks said in a statement on Tuesday. "The purported incident had not been reported or brought to our attention prior to yesterday and had no effect on any player personnel decision regarding Mr. Aliu."
[RELATED: Flames' GM discusses Peters' resignation, due diligence on hiring]
More allegations against Peters surfaced following Aliu's speaking out.
Michal Jordan, who played under Peters with the Hurricanes for parts of two seasons in 2014-15 and 2015-16, Tweeted, "Never wish anything bad to the person but you get what you deserve Bill. After years making it to the NHL had experience with the worst coach ever by far. Kicking me and punching other player to the head during the game."
When asked about the accusation Wednesday morning, Rod Brind'Amour, who was an assistant coach with the team from 2011-2018, confirmed the allegations. "It definitely happened," he told reporters Wednesday.
Sean McMorrow played for Peters in 2008-09 with the Ice Hogs Tweeted, "Worst human being to ever coach me … treated me terrible on a AHL team (IceHogs) where I won a League Award for Community Service. #badguy."
"We knew nothing of any nature of what we've been dealing with the last couple of days," Treliving said.
Peters issued a statement on Wednesday night apologizing to Treliving and the organization "for offensive language I used in a professional setting a decade ago." None of the players who brought allegations forward were named in the letter.
Aliu responded on Twitter with a statement reading, "I have read the statement of Bill Peters, which I found to be misleading, insincere and concerning. I have accepted an invitation from the NHL to meet and discuss this situation. Out of respect for that process I will not respond publicly to the statement or discuss the racism and discrimination that I have endured until after my meeting."
Statement from the @NHL on today's resignation by @NHLFlames head coach Bill Peters. pic.twitter.com/DEbKcYsyCV
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 29, 2019
The Flames hired Peters in April 2018 after he spent four seasons with the Hurricanes. He led Calgary to a division title in 2018-19 and the second-most points in franchise history. The team is currently off to a 12-12-4 start and out of the Western Conference playoff picture.
MORE: Karmanos criticizes how Francis handled allegations against Peters