NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Monday that the league completed its investigation into former Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters and contacted Akim Aliu's representatives regarding "next steps, if any," according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.
Ben Meiselas, the representative for former player Aliu, says the league is lying.
This is news to me & not true. I am Akim’s rep & NHL has not been in touch with us for over a year. Also, investigation was into broader issues of racism Akim experienced entire career in NHL & not limited to Peters. Witnesses we told them about haven’t been contacted. 🧐 https://t.co/GeE2P614oj
— Ben Meiselas (@meiselasb) November 1, 2021
Meiselas provided screenshots of communications with the league from 2020:
Receipts 🧾 pic.twitter.com/fz1lmmS3aZ
— Ben Meiselas (@meiselasb) November 1, 2021
In 2019, Aliu said Peters repeatedly directed the N-word toward him while the two were with the Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, in the 2009-10 season. Two teammates independently corroborated Aliu's account of what happened.
Aliu later said that he believes Peters "ruined and deterred (his) career."
After Aliu initially made the allegation, former Hurricanes defenseman Michal Jordan said Peters kicked him and punched another player in the head during a game while the two were together in Carolina. Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour corroborated Jordan's account of the incident.
Peters subsequently stepped down from his post in Calgary. He's been coaching in the KHL for the past two seasons.
