{"id":151606,"date":"2025-03-01T09:00:08","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T15:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/?p=151606"},"modified":"2025-03-01T07:43:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-01T13:43:46","slug":"auroras-hassan-akl-elevates-hockey-game-to-another-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2025\/03\/01\/auroras-hassan-akl-elevates-hockey-game-to-another-level\/","title":{"rendered":"Aurora’s Hassan Akl elevates hockey game to another level"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Hassan Akl has played a key role in Aurora’s success this season. (Photo Credit: Steve Woltmann\/Aurora Athletics)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hassan Akl has played a huge role in Aurora\u2019s rise to one of the nation\u2019s best Division III hockey teams.<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019s top 10 in the NCHA in goals and assists, and actually leads D-III in assists.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And none of it should be a surprise considering the work the junior forward puts in, especially in the offseason.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really grateful I skate with a lot of really good players, a lot of pros, too, and they have personally helped me elevate my game,\u201d Akl said. It\u2019s important to work with players who are better than you, to help you see what it takes to get to the next level.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Akl, who has racked up 39 helpers to go along with his 13 goals, said there were a lot of aspects of his game he focused on ahead of the 2024-25 season. And it\u2019s paid off big time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI worked a lot on the little details,\u201d Akl said. \u201cI shot the puck more, did a better job of reading the ice in the offensive zone. My game has always been skill and skating. I\u2019ve had those tools for awhile. It\u2019s just been focusing on the little things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Akl and the Spartans won the regular season conference championship and are ranked No. 2 in the country in the USCHO.com poll. They are set to face No. 14 Adrian tonight in a semifinal conference tournament game.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been really fun going to the rink every day, and having everyone push each other,\u201d Akl said. \u201cWe go into every game with confidence and that comes with working hard and doing the little things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On a personal level, it\u2019s been a year to remember for Akl who has seen his production sky rocket in year three at Aurora.<\/span><\/p>\n

He had seven total goals in his first two years. He\u2019s nearly doubled that this season. And in the first two years, he accumulated 33 assists. He\u2019s nearly 10 above that total this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, a lot of it is Akl and what he\u2019s done to put himself in a position to succeed. But the team around him has helped his cause big time as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going out there and not overthinking,\u201d Akl said. \u201cEveryone knows their role and we have four lines that can go out and play well. It makes things easier I can just go out there and play stress free, and do my thing. It\u2019s working well. I give all the credit to my teammates.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Akl grew up in Canada and has always had a passion for hockey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started skating when I was 3 or 4 and started playing at age 5,\u201d Akl said. \u201cI\u2019ve been around the game a long time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As he grew up, the idea of playing in college became more real. He found a home in Aurora.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I went the junior route, I had college in mind, and the opportunity came up to go to Aurora,\u201d Akl said. \u201cEverything has worked out really well. I\u2019m happy with the cards I\u2019ve been dealt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Spartans, who have 23 wins, the most in program history, are hoping a few more cards are dealt in their favor as they take aim at their first conference championship. The one day at a time approach is key.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDay by day,\u201d Akl said. \u201cWe\u2019re not focused on the rankings or anything. We\u2019ve just stuck to taking it day by day and it\u2019s been working. We know we have a good test coming up against Adrian.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While the focus is on the present, Akl does hope to play pro hockey some day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one of the reasons I chose Aurora. I know coach (Jason) Bloomingburg has a lot of connections. I knew if I came here, I\u2019d have an opportunity to play pro one day if I do what I\u2019m suppose to do. I hope playing pro is in my future.”<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hassan Akl has played a huge role in Aurora\u2019s rise to one of the nation\u2019s best Division III hockey teams. He\u2019s top 10 in the NCHA in goals and assists, and actually leads D-III in assists.\u00a0 And none of it should be a surprise considering the work the junior forward puts in, especially in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":151608,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[820],"coauthors":[821],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAurora's Hassan Akl elevates hockey game to another level - College Hockey | USCHO.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Hassan Akl has played a huge role in Aurora\u2019s rise to one of the nation\u2019s best Division III hockey teams. 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