Akim Aliu claims there is much more that has happened to him and others that hasn’t come to light!

Former NHL player Akim Aliu had to comment on the announcement that Bill Peters is being given a second chance by the Lethbridge Hurricanes and will return to the Western Hockey League and organized hockey for the first time in nearly four years despite the unresolved dispute with Aliu. Back in 2019, Peters resigned from his job as head coach of the Calgary Flames following a scandal in which he was alleged to have used racially charged language with Aliu during both Peters’ and Aliu’s time with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.

Back in 2019, Peters resigned from his job as head coach of the Calgary Flames following a scandal in which he was alleged to have used racially charged language with Aliu during both Peters’ and Aliu’s time with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.

When speaking with TSN on Wednesday night, Aliu was still baffled by the hiring of Peters in the WHL, stating that it is a disappointing day since Peters hasn’t shown any remorse for what he has done to him and other players.

“You would think that they’re other qualified candidates that have been chopping at the bit and trying to get a role like this,” Aliu said about Peters’ hiring by the Hurricanes.

He adds: “The lack of accountability on his end has been tough to see.”

Aliu explains how he believes that a third party, a current NHL head coach, reached out to him on behalf of Peters to try to broker an apology as a PR stun to facilitate Peters landing a new job, just four prior to today's announcement. 

On top of his disappointment, Aliu opened up some more about what he endured, revealing that there is much more that has happened to him and others that hasn’t come to light.

“There is a lot more behind the story of the way Bill treated myself and other players throughout the league, stories that have come out after me, and I just don’t think he’s a good person through and through. I’ve had a ton of coaches that I’ve agreed with, not agreed with, but I just think the way he went about a lot of things that he’s done show the type of person that he is and was.”

He goes on: “We have a certain few that have power trips and then use that power to take away someone’s worth. I’ve always said it, I’m a kid that came from absolutely nothing and I used hockey as a way to provide for my family and one person took that away from me. We know reputation in the game of hockey especially and it’s something that’s very difficult to overcome.”

Aliu hopes that the NHL and establishment will take a harder stance in the future on how racism and abuse can be eliminated from hockey, but for now, is fed up of taking a few steps forward and way too many steps back…

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