Akil Thomas appears on OLG Game Plan
4 years ago
Canada Akil Thomas, a Canadian-American ice hockey player, demonstrates a blend of athletic prowess and entrepreneurial spirit, making him a compelling figure for partnerships that value dedication, community engagement, and a commitment to personal brand development.
Akil Thomas co-founded his own clothing brand, ZALE Apparel, with a friend, which embraces his Barbadian heritage. This brand has partnered with organizations like the Niagara IceDogs for Black History Month, designing specialty jerseys and participating in community initiatives. The brand highlights his entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to cultural representation.
Akil Thomas was named Ontario's IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year for his significant contributions to the community, highlighting his involvement and positive impact off the ice.
Akil Thomas, a former captain, has collaborated with the Niagara IceDogs through his ZALE Apparel brand, designing Black History Month jerseys. The organization has also been supportive of his off-ice ventures, featuring his clothing line on national television and social media.
Thomas has designed specialty Black History Month jerseys for the Los Angeles Kings in collaboration with his ZALE brand, featuring symbols like a bold fist emblem. This partnership integrates his personal brand and heritage into the team's community initiatives.
Akil Thomas was born on January 2, 2000, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His early life was influenced by his father’s minor hockey career, leading to various moves before settling in Orlando, Florida, which he considers his hometown. The family later returned to Toronto when Thomas was 11 to pursue greater hockey opportunities. He attended St. Michael’s College School, where he excelled academically, earning the chance to enroll in classes at Brock University. Thomas’s minor hockey career began with the Toronto Marlboros of the GTHL, where he led the team with 72 points in 56 games. He then played for the St. Michael’s Buzzers in the OJHL, leading them in playoff points with 13 in seven games.
Thomas began his major junior career with the Niagara IceDogs after being selected 12th overall in the 2016 OHL priority draft. In his rookie OHL season (2016–17), he set a franchise record for regular-season points by a rookie, earning him a spot on the OHL’s 2017 All-Rookie team and finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting. His performance led to him being named an alternate captain for the IceDogs in the 2017–18 OHL season, where he led the team with 81 points. Following this, he was drafted 51st overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Thomas signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings on March 16, 2019, marking a significant step in his professional career. He achieved 100 points in the 2018–19 season, becoming one of the first teammates since 2007–08 to reach this milestone simultaneously. In 2020, he was traded to the Peterborough Petes.
His international career includes representing Canada at multiple IIHF events, most notably the 2020 World Junior Championship, where he scored the gold medal-winning goal against Russia. On September 22, 2020, due to delays in the North American season, Thomas was loaned to Eisbären Berlin of the DEL. He made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings on April 1, 2024, scoring his first NHL goal in his second game, and finished his debut NHL season with three goals and one assist in seven games. In the AHL, he had a record-setting 2023-24 season with the Ontario Reign, achieving career highs in goals (22), assists (24), and points (46), including nine game-winning goals. Thomas also co-founded Zale Apparel with his friend Ethan Low, a clothing company that celebrates his Barbadian heritage, showcasing his entrepreneurial interests beyond hockey.
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