Flames’ Bill Peters won’t coach vs. Sabres as investigation continues

Bill-Peters

Head coach Bill Peters of the Calgary Flames looks on from the bench during a game against the Los Angeles Kings. (Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Calgary Flames have announced that head coach Bill Peters won’t coach on Wednesday night in Buffalo as they continue to investigate recent allegations made by former player Akim Aliu on social media.

On Monday night, Aliu alleged on Twitter that Peters had directed a racial slur toward him “several times” while the two were together in the AHL. Aliu played for Peters when he was head coach of the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago’s AHL affiliate, for five games in the 2008-09 season and 48 games in 2009-10. Aliu also appeared in 13 games for the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye in ’09-10.

In the series of tweets, Aliu didn’t mention Peters by name, but did refer to a “protégé” of Mike Babcock currently in Calgary. Peters served as Babcock’s assistant on Detroit’s bench for three years.

Flames GM Brad Treliving told reporters earlier Tuesday that the team was continuing to investigate the comments.

“This is a very serious matter and we want to be thorough in our review,” Treliving said in a statement Tuesday night.

Assistant coach Geoff Ward ran Calgary’s practice and will be behind the bench on Wednesday.

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