BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The NHL is investigating allegations Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters directed racial slurs toward Akim Aliu, which the Nigerian-born player says happened a decade ago while the two were in the minors.
The NHL on Tuesday called the alleged behavior ”repugnant and unacceptable.” The league added it will have no further comment until it looks into what happened more thoroughly.
Aliu alleged Peters ”dropped the N bomb” several times at him in 2009-10 during his first full season with the Chicago Blackhawks’ American Hockey League affiliate in Rockford, Illinois. He then said Peters arranged for his demotion to the East Coast Hockey League after Aliu complained.
Flames general manager Brad Treliving said the team is investigating the allegations Aliu raised in a series of tweets on Monday during Calgary’s overtime loss at Pittsburgh. Peters was not made available following the game, and Treliving said he needed time to talk with the coach.
The Blackhawks said the team takes the allegations seriously, but they ”had no effect on any player personnel decision” regarding Aliu.
Email and voice messages left with Aliu have not been returned to The Associated Press.
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