The problem of hockey culture is easy to explain. Firstly, the Sport does not have much interest in changing, because it has always been and remains the happiest on the Island. Say something about it, and the answer will automatically be:
“You just don’t understand because you’ve never been in the room.”Secondly, this insular situation continues because Hockey cannot help but hire the same people to do the same things, educate the next generation of players through the same humidity and achieve the same results. You need look no further than Bill Peters, who is getting a Western League job in Lethbridge this week.
As a reminder, Bill Peters was suspended from his position as NHL coach with the Flames after it was revealed that he not only racially assaulted his Player Akim Aliu while coaching the AHL Blackhawks team, but also overpowered him for as many championship games as possible. In addition, he was known for abusing other players and putting them on the bench. While Alius’ teammates confirmed his story and the then-Rockford Icehogs captain stuck with Peters and The Hawks Organization for him, it wasn’t going anywhere. The current Hurricanes head coach, Rod Brind’Amour, confirmed that he saw Peters abusing players when he was coaching the Canes, and yet we heard something at that time? No, because it would “disturb the room” or “distract”.”And that’s still the most sacred thing in hockey.
There is no other reason to rehabilitate or retrain Peters than to just do it. In hockey, you get a job and you get 17, no matter what kind of tail bag you are. But it’s getting worse.
Peters never approached Aliu to apologize, at least not until he was about to get that Western League coaching job and he knew his name would be in the news cycle. He didn’t even contact Aliu himself directly, but went through another coaching friend. He’s not the type to want to make amends. Just the one who is interested in covering his butt in the PR sense.
Secondly, this guy will educate children! Young players go little or no to school. You will find that a large part of the NHL players go to school in the seventh or eighth grade. So, your coaches in the junior leagues are pretty much the only authority figures or adults that you see every day from the age of 14 or 15. It couldn’t be clearer why so many of them are distorted without knowing what racism, misogyny or sexual assault are. Because people like Peters are the ones who lead them in the age of development. And Hockey seems to be going well, because that’s the way it’s always been done. Hockey prefers to protect his own rather than force someone to grow up or, God forbid, to see the game and the culture change. Peters is a good hockey man, is a phrase that definitely falls on the pike.
