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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Powerful Video From Steve Montador's Former Teammate And Best Friend In Hockey On Mental Health

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Dan Carcillo

Dan Carcillo

An emotional and moving new video from NHLer Dan Carcillo has been posted to YouTube about his former teammate and best friend in hockey Steve Montador, who played for the Peterborough Petes in junior hockey.

Montador, who played with Carcillo with the Chicago Blackhawks, was found dead in his home at age 35 back in February.

Montador suffered through concussions, depression and substance abuse, and had retired from hockey in 2013 after multiple concussions.

The powerful video focuses on the death of Montador and why the NHL community can't be silent about mental health issues anymore and has to look out for its own. 

Watch the video below...

It was early Sunday afternoon, and I was taking off my shoes in our players' lounge when I kept hearing my phone buzz. Someone was calling repeatedly. I immediately got an uneasy, sick feeling when I looked at the screen and saw who was calling. It was my close friend Missy.

—post by Scott Arnold

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