Former NHL coach Bill Peters is the newest head coach of the Western Hockey League’s Lethbridge Hurricanes. During the announcement Wednesday, Peters, along with representatives from the Hurricanes and the Western Hockey League, addressed the 2009-2010 incident with Akim Aliu, which led to the coach resigning from his duties with the National Hockey League’s Calgary Flames in 2019.
During the Wednesday morning announcement, Peters started by apologizing, saying, “I want to sincerely apologize for the hurt and disappointment I caused to Akim, the hockey and the racialized community with my hurtful language. My actions were not reflective of the values and knowledge I hold now. I have spent the past four years reflecting on and understanding the profound impact of my inappropriate language and actions. I am committed to making amends and contributing positively to the hockey community I care deeply about.”
Since resigning from his NHL position, Peters is reported to have taken steps to educate himself and grow, taking courses through Cornell University and Shades of Humanity. The head coach says while he has gotten to a place where he is more comfortable speaking in a diversity, equity, and inclusion space, he still has more work to do through Shades of Humanity. However, the returning bench boss says a situation like the one with Aliu in 2009-2010 will not happen again.
“This has obviously been a changing experience, one that I hope will let me have a platform to make some positive changes in that relationship as well,” Peters says. “So if I can take any steps to educate and help people so they don’t put a player or person in that position, then that’s what I would like to do.”
Hurricanes General Manager Peter Anholt spoke highly of the incoming coach, explaining he believes his addition will positively impact the team and players. Anholt is confident that with the work Peters has done and continues to do, along with the WHL’s Code of Conduct guidelines, the Hurricanes will be a safe place for all.
“I know the situation well enough, I know our players, I’ve recruited our players, and I know our parents, [that] I feel very comfortable with the personal growth Bill’s been through, and how safe our environment is going to be for him and the players.”
WHL Commissioner Ron Robison says while the WHL reached out to all levels of hockey Peters has been part of, including the NHL, the decision on his hiring ultimately came down to being a league decision. Robinson says he believes the WHL is the right place for Peters to re-enter the hockey community.
“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 coaching in the WHL.”
The hockey club announced Peters as the 15th head coach in the team’s history after former bench boss Brent Kissio resigned to take an assistant coaching position with the American Hockey Leagues Henderson Silver Knights. During the 2022-2023, Peters served as Director of Player Personnel for the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Grande Prairie Storm. Peters says while working with the Storm, he got to watch his son, who was also a player on the AJHL team, play more than he ever has.
“That was a very rewarding year, [and] we were able to do a lot of good things, I thought, in the community,” Peters says.
The Hurricanes will head into training camp starting Thursday, August 31st. The camp will include the annual Red vs. White intrasquad game on Sunday, September 3rd, at 12 p.m. Admission to the Sunday afternoon game is free with a monetary or non-perishable food donation, which will go to the Lethbridge Food Bank and Interfaith Food Bank.
