Akil Thomas made his home in DeSoto County as a preschooler while his father Kahlil starred for the Memphis RiverKings hockey team in 2001-2004. Now, Akil has grown up into a hockey star and was drafted Saturday by the NHL Los Angeles Kings as a second round pick.
The 18-year-old now lives in Toronto, Canada, but credits his childhood friend Noah Costa with getting him into his first experience in hockey in DeSoto County.
“Ever since that day, there was no turning back,” he said.
Noah died in a tragic accident at the age of 16 but continued to impact Akil’s career through the Noah’s Gift fund established at the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi in his memory.
When he was 14, Akil applied for a grant from the fund designed to provide extraordinary experiences for worthy young people. He received a $555 grant that allowed him to move up to a competitive hockey team in Toronto.
“Hockey has made me work hard in everything I do and really shaped me into what type of person Noah was,” Akil said.
Akil supplemented the grant by starting a small T-shirt business that has evolved into its own brand, Zake Apparel.
He has been unable to participate in the annual Noah’s Gift 5K Run-Walk-Skate event in Hernando that raises funds for the awards, but he has advertised it with his T-shirts, wrist bands and even a tattoo with Noah’s number 55 on his chest.
In high school, Akil was recognized with his school’s top community service leader award and represented it at a “Me to We” foundation event at Air Canada Centre with many celebrities.
This year he was an alternate captain of his Niagara IceDogs team and has played on Canada’s World Junior team for two seasons.
Akil Thomas is among 20 young people who have received extraordinary experiences with educational grants from Noah’s Gift fund at the Community Foundation. More grants will be available from funds raised at the next Noah’s Gift 5K Run-Walk-Skate on Oct. 27.
More information is available at noahsgift55@gmail.com and email to: noahsgift55@gmail.com or contact the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi in Hernando at 662-449-5002.