Akim Aliu spits on ‘sellout’ P.K. Subban and destroys him for Donald Trump comments

On Thursday, ahead of the 4-nations final between Canada and the United States, P.K. Subban made headlines after posting excitement over President Donald Trump’s call to Team USA before the game. In a long message on X, Trump teased Canada by inviting “Governor Trudeau” to watch the game with him, and, also spoke about the 51st American state.
Subban, who is Canadian, shared the message with the caption “The Trizzy Train [train and smoke emojis] could be coming through soon. Stay tuned!”

Former NHLer Akim Aliu, who’s also known for his work trying to expand diversity in hockey, clashed with Subban in a lengthy post of his own. Here’s what Aliu had to say, calling Subban “a sell out of the highest proportions” and much more:

“I’ve watched you from afar and never said anything for two main reasons. 1 being the respect I have for your brothers and parents & 2 I’ve always wanted to keep the in fighting between folks of color to a minimum.

This was something I couldn’t let go -

I’ve known you since I was ten years old and played with you so I’d say I know you better than most at a deeper level. You were a hell of a player and instead of using your platform you did everything in your power to gain acceptance and popularity, nothing with you has ever been genuine but transactional and usually for publicity reasons.

Even during this most sensitive time both politically and socially you take the side of the oppressor because that’s who you make your money from. I would of thought the “love” you have always claimed for your country, a country you represented at the highest levels would shine through to push back on rhetoric of annexation and humiliation of the very land you are born and raised in, but even that doesn’t get you to do the right morally.

This is the reason why every place you have played - no one liked you and players on the inside have always known who you really are - a sell out of the highest proportions. You are the perfect example of why people of color haven’t progressed at the highest levels of society. From one man to another, you’re a disgrace and history will judge you accordingly.”

As Aliu notes, his comments are about his entire history with Subban, not just this post. However, Subban did receive harsh criticism for his comments and support towards Trump, especially since he not only won gold in the Sochi Olympics in 2014 with Team Canada, but he was also a World Junior Championships winner with the country in 2008 and 2009.

A second-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007, Aliu played in seven NHL games with the Calgary Flames. The versatile player, who could come in as winger and defenseman, has since bounced around to various leagues. He then made headlines when, back in 2019, Bill 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. Aliu said Peters “dropped the N bomb several times” because he didn’t like the player’s choice of music.

He most recently had a stint with the San Jose Barracuda, the AHL affiliate of the San Jose Sharks, after signing a professional tryout contract during the 2023-24 season.

He is mostly known for his work as an advocate about racism and coaching behaviour in hockey, and now this intense spat with Subban.

In the end, however, when Connor McDavid scored the overtime goal and sent Canadian fans in a frenzy, Subban was in his broadcasting booth, celebrating the win for Team Canada: