1. Home
  2. News
  3. Akim Aliu chasing his dream through Orlando

Akim Aliu chasing his dream through Orlando

Friday, February 15th
Akim Aliu chasing his dream through Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – Instead of his name, like most players, Akim Aliu has the word “Dreamer” on his hockey sticks.

“It’s my nickname. It started with the basketball player Hakeem Olajuwon. They called him ‘Hakeem the Dream’,” Aliu said.

Like Olajuwon, Aliu was born in Nigeria. His family moved to Ukraine when he was young before settling in Canada. “When I was 7 it caught on. A lot of people don’t even call me by my name anymore.”

It seems the nickname is more fitting with every passing day. Last week, at 29 years old, he signed with the Orlando Solar Bears. Having played professional hockey for over 10 years, Orlando is Aliu’s 22nd team.

It’s been almost seven years since Aliu got the first taste of his dream. He picked up an assist in his NHL debut with the Calgary Flames on April 5, 2012, and scored two goals in his next game, the season finale. The Flames summoned the gritty Aliu again for five games in 2013.

Since then, he’s been on 14 teams in six leagues in five countries.

“It’s not that fun walking into a new room all the time,” he says “It is what it is.”

But in need of another team, Aliu reached out to Orlando head coach Drake Berehowsky.

“You always need top-end guys. To me, Akim is a top-end guy. He’s got NHL potential,” said Berehowsky, who played over 10 years in the NHL.

The two know each other from juniors and when Berehowsky coached Aliu in the American Hockey League with Peoria in 2011.

“When he called me it wasn’t even a real thought,” Berehowsky said. “I said yeah, of course. And then he came in.”

Aliu made his Solar Bears debut last Friday, nearly a year since playing his last game. He played on both the power play and penalty kill, and recorded one shot on goal in the Solar Bears’ 2-1 win.

After the game, Aliu admitted he was winded towards the end of his shifts.  “I think I played better than I felt, to be honest. I was okay in the first 30 seconds of my shift but then after obviously the wind catches up to you.”

Berehowsky estimates he played around 18 minutes. He gave Aliu Saturday’s game off and says the goal is for Aliu to play upwards of 22 minutes once he gets into “game-shape.”

That confidence in him is exactly why Aliu picked up the phone.

“We have a great relationship,” Aliu said. “He’s very open with me and I’m open with him. I want to play well for him. I know he expects a lot out of me but he also respects my game. I’m super excited to be playing for him.”

And there to help Aliu get settled in is forward Alexander Kuqali, who himself just joined Orlando via trade the week before his former teammate arrived. The two were roommates while with the Florida Everblades in 2016-17 and are living together again.

“Off the ice he’s a great guy,” Kuqali laughed. “He’s a goofy guy like me, so we go hand in hand.”

Even though he’s one of the newer guys in the dressing room, Aliu understands his place as the elder, both in years and experience, on a team carrying 10 rookies.

“I’m just trying to help in any way I can,” Aliu said. “I’m fortunate in that I have been around for such a long time. Any hand I can lend to anyone, I’m willing.”

The support goes both ways. After Friday’s win, Solar Bears goalie Martin Ouellette bestowed upon Aliu the Fireman’s Hat, which is awarded to the player of the game by the previous game’s recipient. (https://www.facebook.com/203646276378198/posts/2071723579570449?sfns=mo) And on Wednesday, Aliu scored with 13 seconds left in Orlando's 5-2 loss at Florida.

When asked why Orlando is the right fit, Aliu is frank.

“I don’t know that it is, I just got here,” he said on Monday. "I don’t know what’s going to happen. I can’t tell the future, but you make decisions based on a comfort level. Like I said, that starts and finishes with Drake. Obviously I have a long relationship with him. But how things are going to pan out, I don’t know. I can’t answer that.”

Either way, the dreamer will continue.

“I’ve known him away from the rink a little bit,” Berehowsky said. “He’s a good kid and he wants to be a part of this. We talk about everyone’s path or whatever to the NHL. Well his story is different than everybody else’s. My story was different than a lot of people’s. Everybody has a different story and he has to be able to finish it or write his own ending.”

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Latest News

More News
ECHL Transactions - March 28
ECHL Transactions - March 28
ECHL announces fine, suspension
ECHL announces fine, suspension
ECHL Today - March 28
ECHL Today - March 28
ECHL Transactions - March 27
ECHL Transactions - March 27
ECHL Today - March 27
ECHL Today - March 27
ECHL Transactions - March 26
ECHL Transactions - March 26
Plays of the Week - March 18-24
Plays of the Week - March 18-24
Saves of the Week - March 18-24
Saves of the Week - March 18-24
ECHL Transactions - March 25
ECHL Transactions - March 25

Sign Up For Updates

Sign up for our email newsletter to be the first to know about ECHL news!

Our Sponsors