Born	April 24, 1989 (1989-04-24) (age 20), Okene, NGA
Height Weight	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 219 lb (99 kg; 15 st 9 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team (P) Cur. team	Chicago Blackhawks Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
NHL Draft	56th overall, 2007 Chicago Blackhawks
Pro career	2008 – present

Akim Aliu (born April 24, 1989 in Okene, Nigeria) is an ice hockey player who is now playing for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League. Aliu was born in Okene, Nigeria. Shortly after being born, his family moved to Kiev, Ukraine. Akim's family came to Canada when he was 12. Aliu still speaks Russian with his family and is fluent.^[1]

Contents 1 Playing career 2 Incident with Steve Downie 3 Career statistics 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Playing career

Aliu was drafted 56th overall during the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. During the 2006–07 season, he helped the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL reach the league championship final. Sudbury lost the series to the Plymouth Whalers.

On June 1, 2007, Aliu was traded to the London Knights in exchange for London's 2nd round pick in 2008 and a 3rd round pick in 2009.^[2] After the 2007–08 season with the Knights was completed, Aliu made his professional debut, playing in two games with Blackhawks affiliate the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL.

On August 25, 2008, Aliu signed a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. On January 4, 2009, Aliu was traded back to Sudbury for the Wolves' 4th round pick in 2009 and 6th round pick in 2010

[edit] Incident with Steve Downie

Early in the 2005–06 OHL season, Aliu was involved in an on-ice altercation with then teammate Steve Downie during a practice. Aliu and Downie fought during a practice that took place on September 28 after Downie hit Aliu with a vicious blindsiding crosscheck to the mouth, knocking out three of Aliu's teeth.^[3] The incident stemmed from the then 16-year-old Aliu's refusal to take part in a hazing incident, which involved rookies being forced to stand naked in a cramped bus bathroom. The team suspended Downie for five games and Aliu for one. Following the incident, Downie was told to undergo professional counseling. Head coach Moe Mantha was suspended by the OHL and later fired by the team, and the team was fined $35,000 by the OHL.^[4]

[edit] Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2004–05	Milton Icehawks	OPJHL		2	0	2	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Windsor Spitfires	OHL		18	3	4	7	25		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Sudbury Wolves	OHL		29	7	6	13	54		6	0	1	1	7
2006–07	Sudbury Wolves	OHL		53	20	22	42	104		21	1	5	6	50
2007–08	London Knights	OHL		60	28	33	61	133		5	2	1	3	15
2007–08	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		2	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	London Knights	OHL		16	8	10	18	30		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Sudbury Wolves	OHL		29	10	16	26	61		6	2	1	3	14
2008–09	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		5	2	0	2	14		1	1	0	1	0
AHL totals				7	2	0	2	16		1	1	0	1	0

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Akim Aliu's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database