New Pete Akil Thomas Just Made One Of The Kindest Gestures A Hockey Player Has Ever Made

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The Peterborough Petes not only landed a star player in Akil Thomas but also a kind, compassionate person.

The World Juniors hero—he who scored the winning goal in the Gold winning game over Russia—has immediately ingratiated himself in the Peterborough community and beyond for his heartwarming gesture in reaching out to the family of the late Steve Montador (he died in 2015 at the age of 35) to ask if he could wear No. 44, the jersey number Akil has been wearing throughout his hockey career—and the number Montador wore when he was a Pete.

Akil Thomas making the call to Montador family with Petes GM Mike Oke

In a tweet that has gone viral put out by the Peterborough Petes, here is what Steve’s brother, Chris, had to say when Akil called him after practice to ask permission to wear No. 44…

“We’re honoured and humbled young man for you to wear that number,” Chris said to Akil in the phone call. “Very respectful to do this.”

Longtime Petes fan Jason Stabler had this to say on Twitter about Akil’s gesture…

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