Bill Peters is back in professional hockey, albeit with the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia.
And I’m feeling conflicted about the story of Peters’ firing in Calgary way back in November. It now feels like three years ago, to be honest, with all that has happened.
Why I am conflicted about a guy who used the n-word in an exchange over music with Akim Aliu in the minors and was physically abusive toward some players just a few years ago?
Because Aliu is welcoming Peters back into professional hockey. His former GM says Peters is doing things to make amends for his previous mistakes. Remember, none of these things happened when Peters was the head coach of the Calgary Flames, yet he was forced to resign from that job amid the coaching purge last year.
Were we too hard on him after those first accusations in the middle of a firestorm of bad coach stories?
Aliu believes in second chances, as do I. And the farther we get away from November, I hope the closer we get to seeing Peters try for a second chance in pro hockey in North America.