It hasn’t been the smoothest sailing time for Beau Akey after the Oilers drafted him 56th overall in the 2023 draft.
He lasted all of 14 games in his draft plus one year before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. The rehabilitation was long, but Akey was able to get return at the start of this season for the Barrie Colts, picking up right where he left off.
While he was able to rack up four goals and nine points in 14 games last season, he’s already tallied four goals and 19 points in 25 games this season, increasing his point-per-game production from .64 to .76. A small increase, but one worth noting.
Akey has found his way to the World Junior selection camp, going on this week in Petawawa, Ont., where he said the start to his season wasn’t all that easy.
“The conditioning definitely wasn’t like all the way there, but I think I definitely picked my feet up off the ground, and now I’m running,” he told Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis in an interview provided to Oilersnation.
Likely considered at the cusp of making the roster, there’s no denying Akey, Oilersnation’s fifth-ranked prospect heading into this season, will need a strong camp to make the roster. His 200-foot game is something he told Ellis has grown over the course of the last year, as has his ability to move the puck.
The Canadian World Junior Team as a whole, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back after a brutal performance at last year’s annual event.
While they fared well in the round-robin, they were knocked out by the eventual bronze-winning Czechia squad, who edged out a 3-2 win. With the tournament on Canadian soil, running from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, 2024, there’s no denying a strong showing will be crucial.
Akey said having the opportuity to represent his country was “pretty cool,” and that while he was working his way back from injury, he found inspiration in watching the team that drafted him go on a run to the Stanley Cup FinaLs.
“It’s inspiring to the young guys in the organization to see what the the Oilers are about, and the Oilers organizations, see the dedication that they give,” he said.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist, making up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
