Peters resigns from Flames job
Bill Peters resigned as coach of the Calgary Flames after it was disclosed he directed racist slurs at a Nigerian-born player in the minors a decade ago and kicked and punched players behind the bench during his recent time with Carolina.
General manager Brad Treliving said he received a resignation letter from Peters on Friday that wraps up a weeklong investigation into the veteran coach's behavior. He refused to discuss whether Peters would continue to be paid, saying only, “He's no longer with the organization.”
“We consider the matter closed,” Treliving said at a news conference in Calgary, Alberta. “It's been a difficult time. But we are going to move forward.”
Peters did not immediately respond to a text. He was in the second season of a three-year contract.
Assistant Geoff Ward takes over as interim coach with the
Flames 12-12-4 and in ninth place in the Western Conference.
Peters has not been on the ice or behind the bench with his team since former player Akim Aliu leveled the accusations of racist slurs Monday night on Twitter.
Treliving said he had been in communication with the NHL this week. The league said Friday its review is ongoing and is scheduled to meet with Aliu and others in the coming days.
Peters went from helping the Flames win 50 games and the Pacific Division title in his first season to perhaps having his career and future in the sport come to an abrupt end over questions about his coaching methods.
Asked if he thought Peters would coach hockey again, Treliving said he'd rather not speculate.
The allegations about Peters began during Calgary's 2-1 overtime loss at Pittsburgh on Monday.
Aliu alleged Peters “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.” It happened during the 2009-10 season while the two were with the Chicago Blackhawks' top minor league affiliate in Rockford, Illinois.
“That type of behavior just has no place,” Treliving said Friday.
The allegations led to stern rebukes from team officials and the NHL even before they concluded their investigations.
MICHIGAN TAKES ATLANTIS
Isaiah Livers scored 21 points and Michigan again overwhelmed a highly ranked opponent with its flowing offense to beat No. 8 Gonzaga 82-64 on Friday in the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas.
Jon Teske added 19 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks as the tournament's most valuable player for the Wolverines.
Michigan beat sixth-ranked North Carolina on Thursday and finished a memorable three-game run to the title by giving first-year coach Juwan Howard another marquee victory.