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J A N / F E B 2 0 2 4 | M H J ON L I N E . C O M 23 Drew's Development Path Akins grew up in Excelsior with a house on Galpin Lake where his father spent countless hours maintaining an outdoor rink. Akins excelled at Minnetonka High School, where he served as team cap- tain and earned all-conference honors. After graduation, he played juniors with the goal of finding a spot on a Division I roster. He slowly but surely made a name for himself playing for the Santa Fe Roadrunners (NAHL) and the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL). Akins says he needed time to develop and a little bit of luck to make it to the Division I college level. "You've got to make it happen," Akins said. "And you've got to be at the right place at the right time, espe- cially for players like me who are bub- ble Division I players. It all needed to come together, and luckily, it did with help from the right people in my development. I really have a lot of people to thank." High school coach Tim Hanus, Roadrunners skippers Scott Langer and Mike Earhart and Stampede coaches Craig Sarner and Kevin Hartzell all helped him reach that goal. Next up to thank was the all-star coaching staff at the University of Minnesota Duluth—Hibbing 's Scott Sandelin, Saint Paul's Steve Rohlik and Duluth native Brett Larson. Akins played 153 games for UMD and graduated as the team captain in 2010. Around the World to Jackson Hole Nine teams, five leagues, three coun- tries. After college, Akins played pro- fessionally in the East Coast Hockey League, Central Hockey League, Poland and Australia. He has zero regrets. "I got an opportunity to travel and meet a lot of really cool people," Akins said. "It didn't really start off the way I had hoped, but that's the way hockey goes." Akins' path proves hockey can take you anywhere. Including Jackson Hole, Wyoming. "Minnesota's where the hockey's at," he thought. "Not Wyoming." In 2016, Akins left a recruiting job and moved out to Jackson Hole to join lifelong friend Bob "Howie" Carruth and the Jackson Hole Moose, a senior divi - sion team with former collegiate and pro players. On a regular weekend, the Moose attract thousands of fans. His first four years in Wyoming, Akins served as the director of play- er and coach development for Jackson Hole hockey. Today, while still playing for the Moose, he runs the Rocky Mountain Wolves hockey development program. Jackson Hole and its youth hockey program—run by Tower, Minnesota native Eric Ballard—is its own little hockey hotbed in the Cowboy State, and Akins has been a fixture in the commu - nity for several years now. Now 38 years old, Akins is still living his dream. "I'm doing something I love," Akins said. "And I get to associate with people who are my best friends and are still involved in the sport. It's such a small world, and to be in that world is a fun place to be." "I'm doing some- thing I love. And I get to associate with people who are my best friends and are still involved in the sport. It's such a small world, and to be in that world is a fun place to be." — Drew Akins Drew Akins played four years at the University of Minnesota Duluth (2006-2010).