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VIDEO: Flames try to focus on hockey as BrindBԪַAmour confirms coach hit players

Hurricanes head coach spent four seasons behind CarolinaBԪַs bench with Bill Peters

The Calgary Flames did their best to distance themselves from the controversy swirling around head coach Bill Peters.

Matthew Tkachuk started his media availability Wednesday morning by stating he would only take questions about hockey ahead of the teamBԪַs game against the Buffalo Sabres.

The other two Flames trotted out were brief, at best, with their answers on a tumultuous stretch that began when a former player when both were in the minors 10 years ago.

Then another former player alleged Peters kicked him and punched a teammate when they were all with the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Flames are attempting to keep things tight to the vest as they continue their investigation, but one of PetersBԪַ former assistants added to the intense scrutiny at the other end of New York state.

Hurricanes head coach Rod BrindBԪַAmour, who spent four seasons behind CarolinaBԪַs bench with Peters, confirmed his boss confronted players in a physical manner.

BԪַIt for sure happened, the two issues that are in question,BԪַ BrindBԪַAmour told reporters in New York before his teamBԪַs game against the Rangers.

Former Hurricanes defenceman Michal Jordan, who now plays overseas, made the allegation Tuesday on Twitter.

BԪַNever wish anything bad to the person but you get what you deserve Bill,BԪַ Jordan said. BԪַKicking me and punching other player to the head during the game then pretending like nothing happenedBԪַcouldnBԪַt believe my eyes.BԪַ

That came on the heels of MondayBԪַs explosive tweets from another former NHLer, Akim Aliu, who wrote that Peters directed racial slurs towards him when both were with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League in 2009-10.

Born in Nigeria and raised in Ukraine and Canada, Aliu never referred to Peters by name, but used CalgaryBԪַs airport code BԪַYYCBԪַ when writing about the alleged coach who BԪַdropped the N bomb several times towards me in the dressing room in my rookie year because he didnBԪַt like my choice of music.BԪַ

Aliu has not responded to interview requests from The Canadian Press.

While he confirmed JordanBԪַs story, BrindBԪַAmour said he was BԪַproudBԪַ of the way those incidents were handled by both the players and management.

BԪַIt was definitely dealt with, in my opinion, correctly,BԪַ he said. BԪַWeBԪַve definitely moved past that.BԪַ

Peters, meanwhile, remains employed by the Flames, but isnBԪַt currently with the team.

Flames general manager Brad Treliving, who is conducting the investigation, was not made available to reporters Wednesday.

The allegations levied against Peters and the revelation of some questionable motivational tactics used by former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock have raised questions about how people in positions of power deal with players in todayBԪַs game.

The Toronto Sun and Postmedia reported Babcock, who was fired last week, asked a rookie to draw up a list during the 2016-17 season that ranked his teammates from hardest- to least-hardest working. Babcock then shared that list with some of the veterans at the bottom of the ledger.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

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In this Oct. 25, 2019, file photo, Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters watches practice in Regina, Saskatchewan, ahead of the NHL Heritage Classic outdoor hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets. (Liam Richards/The Canadian Press via AP, File)




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