Flames vow to 'do our part' in fight against racism, GM says

There is no place for racism either in a hockey locker room or society as a whole, Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving said Wednesday.

Treliving, who six months ago dealt with the subject of racism during the investigation and subsequent resignation of Bill Peters as Calgary coach, vowed that he and the Flames will fight against the type of inequality that has spawned protests around the world.

"Obviously we had the issue earlier this year, so it's been something that has brought self-reflection and asking how we can be part of the solution and do our part," Treliving said during a roundtable with Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas and "Hockey Night in Canada" host Ron MacLean on Sportsnet's Facebook page.

"You have all sorts of feelings. Anger, to see what's transpired. And try to heal. And over the past week or so, that's what we've been going through and how do we play our part so we all move forward the proper way."

Treliving said he became emotional at seeing the footage that led to a white police officer being charged with second-degree murder after George Floyd, a black man, died in custody in Minneapolis on May 25.

"All of us have watched the video of the incident in Minneapolis," he said. "Your heart goes out there to the people involved. To me, it's a time to look internally. How can you help, how can you play your part to do what's right?

"To me, you have to look internally before you can deal with the issue externally."

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Peters resigned four days after Akim Aliu, a second-round pick (No. 56) of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2007 NHL Draft, alleged on social media Nov. 25 that he was repeatedly subjected to a racial slur during the 2009-10 season.

Although he didn't mention Peters by name, Aliu played that season for Rockford of the American Hockey League, where Peters was coach. It was Aliu's first professional season and Peters' third and final season with Rockford.

Peters resigned from the Flames during an investigation led by Treliving, who wanted to ensure similar incidents were not occurring with Calgary. One of the first things Treliving did was speak with Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington, who is black.

"I can't put myself in the shoes, whether it be Akim or any other black player, to say what they've experienced," Treliving said. "To me it's about education. We've had lots of discussions internally.

"We went through our situation earlier in the year talking to [Oliver] … and just trying to get an understanding of ensuring, No. 1, that the environment that we have here hasn't put him in any position that I'm unaware of where he's feeling uncomfortable or felt different than any other player. And he's assured me that that was the case. But you have to do more. We have to educate ourselves … friends, people, inside or outside the industry. It's all going to come to actions. We can talk, we can make statements, but ultimately, it's how we live our lives. Learning about the injustices …"

Treliving and Dubas each said he spent his childhood in environments where they were shielded from racial inequality.

"I grew up where it didn't matter where you're from, the color of your skin, everyone's treated equally," said Treliving, a native of Penticton, British Columbia. "And to know there are people who are not treated equally, it does make you angry. In a position of leadership, you have to learn and understand what it is they've had to go through and ensure that you've become a voice where that doesn't continue."

Dubas, a native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, said the Maple Leafs will be more diligent in the fight against racism. He said a number of Toronto players, including Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner, Morgan Rielly and Frederik Andersen, were vocal on social media in their quest for equality.

"In the last couple of days, as our players and our staff have asked what more can we do, we've begun to investigate different groups in Toronto, in Canada, and in the United States that our people can be involved with, whether it's donating their time, donating their platform and visibility to those different groups, or financial activism," Dubas said.