Bill Peters resigns as Flames head coach amid investigation

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Bill Peters has resigned as head coach of the Calgary Flames four days after former Blackhawks prospect Akim Aliu said his former Rockford IceHogs coach used a racial epithet in the locker room during the 2009-10 season.

“This morning I received a letter of resignation from Bill Peters, which I accepted,” Flames general manager Brad Treliving said Friday in a press conference. “Effectively immediately, Bill Peters is no longer a member of the Calgary Flames organization.”

The NHL also released this statement on Friday:

"The League has been in regular communication with Calgary Flames management and our review of this serious matter is ongoing. There are meetings scheduled with relevant individuals — including Akim Aliu — in the coming days. We will have no further comment at this time."

Treliving said he has met with Aliu as part of the investigation, and the NHL says it will do so as well. Aliu, who was drafted by the Blackhawks in the second round (No. 56 overall) of the 2007 NHL Draft, said he has accepted the invitation from the NHL "to meet and discuss this situation."

Flames assistant coach Geoff Ward has been named the interim head coach.

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