(CNN) Former National Hockey League player Akim Aliu has accepted an apology from the Colorado Eagles and from a staffer who, about nine years ago, posed with him for a photo while in blackface. In a joint statement from Aliu and the team's president, Aliu said he accepted an apology from head equipment manager Tony Deynzer, who is pictured in the photo from a 2011 Halloween party. And he asked that Deynzer not lose his job, the statement said. "Listening to Akim was both emotional and inspirational and a very moving moment in my career. Aliu, who used to play for the minor league team, said he accepted both apologies and had a tough but necessary conversation with Lind.

Source: CNN December 18, 2019 07:41 UTC