Ex-teammates corroborate former NHL player Akim Aliu's claim that Flames coach Bill Peters used racial slur

Kevin Allen | USA TODAY

Two former teammates of ex-NHL player Akim Aliu on Tuesday corroborated Aliu's allegation that Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters used a racial slur toward him years ago when Aliu played for the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs and Peters was coach.

Simon Pepin and Peter MacArthur, who were teammates with Aliu in Rockford, confirmed his account to Canadian TV network TSN, saying they were in the locker room at the time.

“He walked in before a morning pregame skate and said, ‘Hey Akim, I’m sick of you playing that (expletive), ” Aliu, 30, told TSN on Tuesday. Aliu was with Rockford from 2008-10.

The NHL and Flames had already announced they were investigating Aliu’s accusation, first made on Twitter Monday night.

The Flames announced Tuesday night that Peters would not be behind the bench Wednesday in Buffalo and associate coach Geoff Ward would handle the duties instead as the team's investigation continues.

The Nigerian-born Aliu played last season with the Orlando Solar Bears in the East Coast Hockey League. He played seven games in his NHL career, all with the Flames in two seasons from 2011-13.

Tuesday, defenseman Michal Jordan, who was with Peters on the Carolina Hurricanes, alluded in a tweet to other improper behavior. TSN talked to him after the tweet.

"He kicked me pretty hard in the back during a game," Jordan told the network. "Even the trainers and the other guys saw it."

He added: "I was at that point in my career, like I just got there, so I couldn't say anything. I didn't want them to think I was crying. Me and my agent, we kept it secret. Now other guys are speaking out, so I felt like I could."