Akim Aliu (L, in 2012) and PK Subban (R, in 2022). Akim Aliu (L, in 2012) and PK Subban (R, in 2022). (Images from Resolute/Wikipedia and Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images.)
NHLTwitterBy Andrew Bucholtz on

The 4 Nations Face-Off hockey final Thursday night between the United States and Canada has taken on a lot of political dimensions. That includes not the trade dispute between the countries and the on-pause-for-now tariffs, but also U.S. president Donald Trump’s repeated comments threatening annexation and making Canada “the 51st state.” Trump posted about that on X Thursday, and that drew a repost with comment from ESPN NHL analyst P.K. Subban:

That came after a previous post from Subban Tuesday which seemed to support the idea of a Trump appearance:

Those comments from Subban (who was born and raised in Canada, but now works for an American network) drew their own reaction. And one of the most notable reactions there came from former NHL player Akim Aliu, who’s also known for his work trying to expand diversity in hockey and his honest comments about the barriers he has faced. On X, Aliu went after Subban in incredibly strong terms, calling him “a sell out of the highest proportions” and much more:

Here’s the full text of that post from Aliu:

I’ve watched you from afar and never said anything for two main reasons. 1 being the respect I have for your brothers and parents & 2 I’ve always wanted to keep the in fighting between folks of color to a minimum.

This was something I couldn’t let go –

I’ve known you since I was ten years old and played with you so I’d say I know you better than most at a deeper level. You were a hell of a player and instead of using your platform you did everything in your power to gain acceptance and popularity, nothing with you has ever been genuine but transactional and usually for publicity reasons.

Even during this most sensitive time both politically and socially you take the side of the oppressor because that’s who you make your money from. I would of thought the “love” you have always claimed for your country, a country you represented at the highest levels would shine through to push back on rhetoric of annexation and humiliation of the very land you are born and raised in, but even that doesn’t get you to do the right morally.

This is the reason why every place you have played – no one liked you and players on the inside have always known who you really are – a sell out of the highest proportions. You are the perfect example of why people of color haven’t progressed at the highest levels of society. From one man to another, you’re a disgrace and history will judge you accordingly.

As Aliu notes, his comments here are about his entire history with Subban, not just this post. But these are still remarkably strong and personal remarks. And they do come from a notable figure, albeit one who’s never been shy with his takes (he previously called writer Steve Simmons “what’s wrong with society“). And while Aliu was far from the only person going at Subban after that “Trizzy Train” line (only one of Subban’s notable recent takes), his reaction might have been the strongest.

This is just part of the intense focus on this tournament final, which Subban himself argued on Get Up Thursday could be “bigger than the Stanley Cup.” And the political context to it is certainly part of the reason why. And that probably means this Subban-Aliu dust-up isn’t the only one we’ll see.

About Andrew Bucholtz

Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media for Awful Announcing since 2012. He is also a staff writer for The Comeback. His previous work includes time at Yahoo! Sports Canada and Black Press.

View all posts by Andrew Bucholtz