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A former Flames forward has levelled a serious allegation against Calgary’s current head coach, saying Bill Peters directed a racial slur toward him when both were in the minors about a decade ago.

Akim Aliu, who is of Nigerian descent, made the claim Monday evening in a series of Twitter posts.

“Not very surprising the things we’re hearing about Babcock,” Aliu wrote, referring to the fallout since Mike Babcock was fired last week as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. “Apple doesn’t fall far from the Tree, same sort of deal with his protege in YYC. Dropped the N bomb several times towards me in the dressing room in my rookie year because he didn’t like my choice of music.”

Peters’ first job at the professional level was as the head coach of the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs — the affiliate for the Chicago Blackhawks — for three seasons from 2008-11.

He was then hired by the Detroit Red Wings as an assistant coach, reuniting with Babcock. The two had previously worked together with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs.