After scoring six points in three games, Akil Thomas became the second Ontario Reign player this season to win the AHL’s Player of the Week award.
Reigning supreme.
: https://t.co/kpGEjjNnzn@ontarioreign | @LAKings | @hockeytape pic.twitter.com/TBk4R2WdDg
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) March 25, 2024
Cold blooded @AkilThomas2 is @TheAHL Player of the Week!
https://t.co/R93mzcO5xV pic.twitter.com/3hsnyrswZg
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) March 25, 2024
Akil Thomas was named Player of the Week for the AHL. Congrats @AkilThomas2. #GoKingsGo #ReighTrain pic.twitter.com/91uWCriJzp
— Kyle Garcia (@Kopitar4HOF) March 25, 2024
In three games, Thomas recorded two points in each game for a total of six points (4G – 2A). He also recorded the game-winning goal in all three games, including a highlight-reel, spin-o-rama overtime winner against the Calgary Wranglers that sent the internet into a frenzy.
SPIN-O-RAMA: Akil Thomas takes matters into his own hands in OT. @ontarioreign pic.twitter.com/PFeUNQAdnl
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) March 23, 2024
SOMEONE CALL @espn AKIL THOMAS WITH THE SPIN-O-RAMA TO WIN IT IN OT!!#REIGNTRAIN pic.twitter.com/QIwhxRjYyQ
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) March 23, 2024
Akil Thomas with a NASTY OT winner for the Ontario Reign
(via @ontarioreign) pic.twitter.com/r5l1oLmZLl
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 23, 2024
Nasty goal by Akil Thomas last night. https://t.co/guPcA7wXWP
— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) March 23, 2024
Akil put that defender in the spin-cycle. https://t.co/yRMjPTXaX4
— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) March 23, 2024
We’re not sure if a Reign player has recorded the game-winning goal in every game of the week in Reign history (AHL and ECHL), so we’ll have to look that up. However, we do know that his nine game-winning goals lead the AHL.
KILLER PUTS THE REIGN BACK UP BY 1 LATE#REIGNTRAIN | #TUCvsONT pic.twitter.com/XAAqf3in1B
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) March 21, 2024
Thomas became the second Reign player (Samuel Fagemo) to win the award this season and eighth overall since the Reign joined the AHL.
Answer:
Peter Budaj (2016)
Jack Campbell (2017)
TJ Hensick (2018)
Cal Petersen (2019)
Alex Turcotte (2021)
Martin Frk (2021)
Samuel Fagemo (2024)
Akil Thomas (2024)#GoKingsGo #ReignTrain https://t.co/N23vMgZhZU— Kyle Garcia (@Kopitar4HOF) March 25, 2024
The fourth-year pro has set career highs in games played (60), goals (21), assists (21), and points (42). After missing 87 out of 140 games the past two seasons because of injuries, a healthy Thomas has shown he can produce and be a key member of the Reign. With there being bottom six spots in the LA Kings forward group next season because of UFAs and RFAs this summer, if they want to look for internal options to fill some of those spots, Thomas should get one of those spots.
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