Former Carolina Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis issued his first public comments Saturday on physical incidents involving former Canes coach Bill Peters and two players, and his statement contradicts comments made this week by former majority owner Peter Karmanos.
Peters, who coached the Canes from 2014 to 2018, kicked former defenseman Michal Jordan and punched another player, who has not been identified. Canes coach Rod Brind'Amour, a former assistant under Peters, confirmed this week that the incidents occurred.
Francis, in his statement, said he took "immediate action" after being informed of the incidents and added that he "briefed ownership."
Peters resigned Friday as head coach of the Calgary Flames. Former NHL defenseman Akim Aliu had accused him of using racial slurs while Aliu played on an American Hockey League team coached by Peters a decade ago. Jordan later came forward, also via Twitter, to say Peters kicked him and punched another Canes player during a game.
Karmanos, in an interview this week with the Seattle Times, said he was not informed by Francis about the two incidents, saying he would have fired Peters had he been told.
Francis, who hired Peters to be the Canes coach, was Carolina's general manager until 2018. He now is general manager of the Seattle NHL expansion franchise.
Francis said in the statement, issued by the NHL, that while Hurricanes GM he was first made aware of the two physical incidents by a group of players and hockey staff members.
"I took this matter very seriously," Francis said in the statement. "I took immediate action to address the matter and briefed ownership. To my knowledge no further incidents occurred."
Francis extended Peters' contract in July 2016 through the 2018-19 season. Peters resigned after the 2017-18 season, having failed to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs in any of his four seasons.
Francis said he would make no further comments, saying it would be inappropriate "while an active investigation was being conducted by another team."
Brind'Amour said this week that he believed the situation was handled correctly at the time by management. Jordan, who now plays in the KHL, last played for the Hurricanes in the 2015-16 season.
Karmanos sold majority interest in the Hurricanes to Tom Dundon in January 2018 but remains a minority owner. Contacted Saturday via text, he declined to comment at this time.
Neither Francis nor Peters responded this week to requests for comment.
