Hurricanes make controversial hire in Peters as their new head coach

By Lethbridge Herald on August 30, 2023.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Herald File photo Bill Peters meets with reporters as the Lethbridge Hurricanes announced him as their new head coach in August.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Bill Peters was officially introduced as the 15th head coach in Lethbridge Hurricanes history on Wednesday morning at the Enmax Centre.

The hiring undoubtedly didn’t come without its controversy as this is Peters first coaching job inside of North America in four years after he resigned from the Calgary Flames in November 2019 after it was made public he had committed an act of anti-black racism involving Akim Aliu, who was a former player of his when they were both with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs in the 2009-2010 Season.

On Nov. 25, 2019, Aliu spoke out about the racial profanities Peters directed at him while playing for the IceHogs and how the coach had blackballed him in professional hockey. A day after Aliu’s allegations, former Carolina Hurricanes player Michal Jordan said that Peters had kicked him and punched another unnamed player during a game.

“Well I haven’t been able to talk to Akim personally and I’d look forward to the day that we’re able to do that,” said Peters.

“In order to make a proper apology … you have to be educated enough to do that. So the work I’ve done through Shades of Humanity and also through Cornell (University)online, I’m more comfortable speaking in the DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion)  space and now it’s evolved to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. So much more educated in that regard. So more comfortable trying to craft an apology and have that conversation.”

Peters was asked about if he had to coach a player of colour, what would he do to avoid the mistake he had with Aliu.

“Well more communication in advance, more education in advance and you know it’s obviously been a changing experience,” said Peters.

“One that’s going to allow me have a platform. I hope to make some positive changes in that relationship.”

Peters thinks it will be really important to work with anti-racism groups as he moves forward in coaching the club.

“Like the on ice part is important, but equally to me the off ice is as important,” he said.

“So do we have anything that’s set up and ready to go, no. Have we had few conversations last night about what I would like to see, for sure. But it’s easy to brainstorm and come up with ideas. Now you’ve got to implement those ideas. So it’s something that’s a priority for sure and I look forward to getting into the community and try to help out.”

WHL Commissioner Ron Robison feels satisfied with the steps Peters has taken.

“After a thorough review, speaking with representatives from Shades of Humanity, and receiving a commitment from Bill to continue on his path of anti-racism, self-growth and redemption, the WHL is satisfied Bill is ready to return to coaching in the WHL,” Robison said in a statement.

 “The journey towards individual and systemic equity learning should be viewed as an ongoing process. Bill has demonstrated that through this process and the WHL remains committed to systemic change through continued education.”

Peters has since then completed a 12-month intensive personal program in the last year with Shades of Humanity, which is a national diversity and inclusion consultancy.

“Bill Peters received meaningful education to understand race, privilege, power, bias and the importance of fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and diversity within the world of sports,” as read in a hand out statement by him.

 The Three-Hills product will still continually participate in anti-racism coaching, equity training and further educational initiatives that will be provided  by Shades of Humanity, while  adhering to personal conduct regulations and policies.

Those regulations and policies include the WHL Diversity and Inclusion Policy that focus on anti-racism.

 Hurricanes general manager Peter Anholt is confident in Peters coaching this team .

“Very confident,” said Anholt.

“We know that Bill’s gone through a personal change over the last number of years and taking the courses. He took a course with Cornell University; he took the Shades of Humanity course. So we’re really comfortable and confident and just following off the WHL guidelines of our Code of Conduct. We just know that the players are safe and everybody’s safe, whether it’s  he billets or staff included. We know that that’s in place and we know that we will be watched closely too because of it and we understand that.”

“Well you know, one of the things that was evident to me right away was Peter (Anholt) (and)  the care for the players,” said Peters.

“Everything is about the players. He mentioned it in the press conference. One of the first questions, you know, before this ever fully  got to the finish line was I asked how many guys they carried and he said 22, and it was a beautiful thing to here as a coach because now the reality is you’re going to get everybody to play. You know you don’t have a bunch of healthy scratches in the stands. It’s a philosophy that I agree with. And I asked him about 16 year olds, because 16 year olds … in my opinion need to play . He was the same way; he goes we’re not keeping a 16 year old unless you can be in our line up and contribute on a nightly basis. So that was interesting and you know good to hear and then from there we just kind of continued to have talks about philosophy and everything else and went from there.”

Peters said right now the work (has) all been done by the assistants for training camp.

“And a very unique situation with Matt Anholt being an assistant G.M. in the organization too,” said Peters.

“So they’ve laid out training camp. I haven’t done anything in training camp at all. So we’ve looked at it, we’ve talked about it briefly. We have it where they’re happy, the format of it, and they’re  going to execute training camp and then we’ll start working on building relationships with our players and going from there. But I haven’t had a big impact on training camp. There’s a bunch of games being played, two a day (beginning today) over the next three days and then our red/white game and it’s an opportunity for me just to observe players and try to put a name to a face.”

Aliu was ultimately disappointed with the news on Wednesday after it was only last week that a current NHL coach reached out to attempt to broker an apology to him between himself and Peters.

“My intuition and what I thought was kind of an insincere way to approach me was proven right today,” said Aliu in a phone interview with The Canadian Press. “It’s been 13 years since the incident happened, four years since it’s become public, and now when he’s up for another job, and for PR motivations, he wants to get in touch with me.

“I knew from Day 1 what kind of person this guy was when I stepped into the room in Rockford. I really don’t say this lightly, because I know for a lot of people there’s coaches they don’t get along with, but he’s one of those very few that I just genuinely don’t think is a very good person.”

This will be Peters second tenure coaching in Lethbridge after coaching the U of L men’s team from 2002-2005.

His last stint in the WHL was with Spokane Chiefs for three seasons ,in which he beat the Hurricanes in 2008 for the WHL championship and went on to win the Memorial Cup that year.

 -With files from The Canadian Press