Disgraced former NHL coach Bill Peters lands with WHL's Lethbridge Hurricanes

The WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes have hired disgraced former NHL head coach Bill Peters, the team announced on Wednesday.

Peters resigned as Calgary Flames head coach in 2019 after Akim Aliu tweeted about Peters berating him with racist slurs when both were part of the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs in 2009-10.

While the original tweet didn’t mention Peters by name, the former Flames coach issued an apology through a lawyer. Aliu described Peters’ apology as “insincere and concerning.”

Peters began Wednesday's press conference with an apology to his former player. Aliu also posted on social media that a current NHL head coach reached out to him last week on Peters' behalf.

Lethbridge says Peters has completed the Anti-Racism Training and Coaching Certification program and will continue to partake in anti-racism coaching, equity training, and further educational initiatives. WHL commissioner Ron Robison is also satisfied Peters has taken the necessary steps required to return to coaching in the WHL.

Peters tried to paint his treatment of Aliu as merely “an isolated and immediately regrettable incident,” but it wasn’t the only time he was accused of mistreating a hockey player. Former Carolina Hurricanes player Michal Jordan said Peters “kicked him pretty hard in the back” during a game, and that there were multiple physical interactions between Peters and players when he was bench boss in Carolina.

Jordan pointed out that others saw it, which then-assistant coach Rod Brind’Amour confirmed.

Ultimately, Peters’ career progressed while others suffered. Aliu said he was demoted to the ECHL in the aftermath of Peters’ comments, and believes the situation hurt his career. Peters remained as Hurricanes head coach despite those physical altercations, which didn’t help the reputation of then-GM Ron Francis.

In November 2019, Peters was able to resign from his post as Flames head coach rather than get fired. In April 2020, Peters took a job with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg in the KHL, a head coaching gig that ended in November 2021.

The Hurricanes never made the playoffs in four seasons under Peters, while the Flames were eliminated in the first round in their lone postseason appearance with him at the helm. The 58-year-old didn’t really distinguish himself as a KHL head coach, either. Still, he'll be getting another chance behind the bench with the WHL's Hurricanes.