Peters apologizes to GM, not Aliu

Flames coach’s statement only mentions his use of ‘offensive language’

BUFFALO, N.Y.— Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters apologized for his use of offensive language in a letter to general manager Brad Treliving, while his players did their best to distance themselves from the controversy.

Peters, accused by former player Akim Aliu of directing slurs toward him when both were with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League in 2009-10, wrote that he was sorry for using “offensive language … in a professional setting a decade ago,” adding that it was an “isolated and immediately regrettable incident.”

“The statement was made in a moment of frustration and does not reflect my personal values,” Peters said. “After the incident, I was rightfully challenged about my use of language, and I immediately returned to the dressing room to apologize to the team. I have regretted the incident since it happened, and I now also apologize to anyone negatively affected by my words.”

Peters did not specifically apologize to Aliu. The Flames attempted to keep things tight to the vest as they continued their investigation Wednesday — Matthew Tkachuk started his media availability Wednesday morning by stating he would only take questions about hockey, while Treliving expected to have more information Thursday — but one of Peters’ former assistants added to the scrutiny.

Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour, who spent four seasons behind Carolina’s bench with Peters, confirmed his boss confronted players in a physical manner.

“It for sure happened, the two issues that are in question,” Brind’Amour said.

Former Hurricanes defenceman Michal Jordan, who now plays overseas, made the allegation Tuesday on Twitter.

“Never wish anything bad to the person but you get what you deserve Bill,” Jordan said. “Kicking me and punching other player to the head during the game then pretending like nothing happened … couldn’t believe my eyes.”

Peters did not mention that incident in his apology.

Jordan’s tweet came on the heels of Monday’s tweets from Aliu. Born in Nigeria and raised in Ukraine and Canada, Aliu never referred to Peters by name, but used Calgary’s airport code “YYC” when writing about the alleged coach who “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.”

Associate coach Geoff Ward ran the bench in the Flames’ 3-2 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.