Former NHLer alleges racist comments by Flames head coach Bill Peters

A former Flames forward has levelled a serious allegation against Calgary’s current head coach, saying Bill Peters directed a racial slur toward him when both were in the minors about a decade ago.

Akim Aliu, who is of Nigerian descent, made the claim Monday evening in a series of Twitter posts.

“Not very surprising the things we’re hearing about Babcock,” Aliu wrote, referring to the fallout since Mike Babcock was fired last week as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. “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.”

Peters’ first job at the professional level was as the head coach of the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs — the affiliate for the Chicago Blackhawks — for three seasons from 2008-11.

He was then hired by the Detroit Red Wings as an assistant coach, reuniting with Babcock.

The two had previously worked together with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs.

Aliu logged 48 appearances for the IceHogs during the 2009-10 campaign, registering 11 goals and six assists.

He made his NHL debut with the Flames in April 2012 — scoring twice in his second contest at the Saddledome — and skated in a total of seven games at the top level, all during his two seasons with Calgary’s organization. Peters was hired in 2018. He and Aliu, now 30, never overlapped in Calgary.

“First one to admit I rebelled against (Peters). Wouldn’t you?” Aliu continued in his social-media posts Monday.

“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 pro career.”

The Flames learned of Aliu’s allegations midway through Monday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.