https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/how-co...year-1.5248582



Akil Thomas felt like he was living in a movie. The script seemed predetermined and, as it would turn out, he had an unlikely starring role.
Canada trailed Russia 3-1 with 11 minutes left in the gold-medal game of the 2020 world junior hockey championship last January when a shot pinballed in off Connor McMichael to cut the deficit. Canadian captain Barrett Hayton, who suffered a separated shoulder in the semis and was a huge question mark for the final, then tied things moments later with a bullet shot on a power play.
That set the stage for Thomas - a forward used sparingly throughout the tournament in the Czech Republic, but handed one final shift by head coach Dale Hunter - to play hero on a breakaway that materialized out of almost nothing with 3:57 left in regulation.

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Love the selection! Love this team! Love this photo!