Akim Aliu is a Nigerian-born professional ice hockey player who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He has played for various AHL and ECHL teams in the past, including the Blackhawks and Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets organizations, and most recently competed in the Czech Extraliga with HC Litvnov.
The Chicago Blackhawks selected Aliu in the second round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, 56th overall, and made his NHL debut on April 5, 2012.
Although there is no information about his marital status, it is known that he is in a relationship. He has posted pictures with his rumored girlfriend on his Instagram account, tagging her with the username @cpainn88. However, she prefers to keep a low profile and has not revealed her identity.
According to his Instagram account, Akim has been in a relationship with the same woman since 2015, and he tweeted the first photo of her with the caption “Woman in Red” that same year.
On September 13, 2022, he was seen with his rumored fiancé and family at the Toronto International Film Festival, and they looked stunning together and were supportive of each other.
Akim Aliu’s career
Starting his career at a young age, he was a member of the Elite Toronto Marlboros hockey team before being chosen in the first round of the Ontario Hockey League draft by the Windsor Spitfires at just 16 years old.
Later, the Chicago Blackhawks selected him in the second round of the National Hockey League draft after the OHL had already picked him two years earlier. When he was 19 years old, he made his professional debut with the American Hockey League’s Rockford Ice Hogs.
After a successful OHL career spanning four years with the Sudbury Wolves and the London Knights, Akim Aliu joined the National Hockey League’s Calgary Flames in 2011.
He has since become a prominent professional player and advocate for racial equality, diversity, and increased participation in sports, particularly hockey for BIPOC youth.
As of 2023, he is recognized as one of the world’s top professional ice hockey players and has played a significant role in the sport’s and society’s evolution.
Akim Aliu’s net worth
Akim Aliu is estimated to have a net worth of $5 million. In a 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks, he scored his first two NHL goals and was named the game’s first star. The Flames re-signed him to a one-year deal after the season.
When the Flames decided not to offer him a new contract, he joined the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL on a tryout basis a year later. He signed a significant contract with the Rochester Americans on October 10, 2014, before being released from the team after playing in ten games.
In January 2015, he signed with the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League, where he played in around 15 games to finish the season. He also signed with AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons and most recently played for HC Litvinov in the Czech Extraliga (ELH).
Ex-NHL player speaks out against GTHL
A proposal for a new club that aimed to provide guaranteed spots for BIPOC players was rejected by the GTHL.
As TSN’s Rick Westhead reported, former NHL player Akim Aliu believes that the Greater Toronto Hockey League and its directors prevented him from launching a grassroots organization that would offer programming from the house league to the AAA level.
Aliu’s proposed team, the Toronto Dream, would have guaranteed roster spots for BIPOC players and demanded hiring women and people of color in managerial roles.
Scotiabank and Heinz Canada had proposed significant investment into the club, while Aliu, the Hockey Diversity Alliance (HDA), and investment partner Jim Nikopoulous would have run the operations.
It’s essential to support AAA teams as it can inspire minority children to realize their potential and achieve greatness.
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