![]() Born in Lagos, he’d spent years of his youth in Kiev before moving to Toronto, where he grew up in hard-scrabble circumstances, his family living on welfare for a time. He was the son of a Nigerian father and a Russian mother. People who knew Aliu before he arrived in Windsor knew he was a kid who always stuck up for himself. He also wasn’t going to suffer that treatment in silence. Aliu didn’t like it one bit and refused to play along. Steve is a true leader in showing that life is what you make it, and dreams really do come true.In 2005, Akim Aliu was a sixth-overall pick in the OHL draft beginning his first year with the Windsor Spitfires, when a bunch of older players forced four rookies to strip and locked them all in the cramped bathroom at the back of the team bus on the drive back from a pre-season road trip. Steve showed those around him, and those all over the hockey world that life puts up brick walls that aren't put in place to keep you out, but to show how hard you must push before they will come down. Living the dreams of his, and the dreams his father always had for him. Playing on the Tampa Bay Lightning, rooming with hockey superstar Steve Stamkos, Steve is living the dream. In the final step towards his dream, Steve signed a 3-year entry level contract in the National Hockey League and made his debut in December 2007. In 2005, Steve Downie was selected in the first round, 29th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League. With these accomplishments Steve earned the right to realize a dream. If making the team wasn't good enough to show the doubters wrong, he won two gold medals with the national juniors while he was there. After a few years in the league, Steve then made the national junior team for Canada, two years in a row. Rising above these new obstacles was nothing less than expected for Steve Downie. Living in a new city, with a new family, going to a new school, and playing on a whole new team are just a few of the difficulties. The Ontario Hockey League separates the men from the boys, and when you strive your real dreams are confronted in a chance to play in the National Hockey League.īeing a teenager living away from home can hold many different difficulties. This was a huge pivotal moment in Steve's life, as many young kids strive to be where he was then. When Steve was 16 years old, he was drafted in the first round, 16th overall, by the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League. Knowing what hockey meant to him now, Steve became a star and people started looking at him. Pushing through the obstacles and with every excuse to quit, Steve didn't. With all the odds and signs pointing against Steve trying to steer him away and far from hockey, Steve held his heart higher than his head. Was his father gone, but his biggest fan, his hero, and theīackbone of his whole family died in that car accident. This car accident took the life of Steve's father. Practice, Steve and his father got into a car accident. If being deaf wasn't enough to hinder him, an even biggerĮvent happened. Steve is deaf in his right hear due to the hearingĭisorder otosclerosis, causing him to wear a hearing aid. The circumstances and life events that happen shape the person In hockey, the battle is always won outside of the rink. Playing for Team Canada at the World Junior Hocke In hockey success is always brought on by the ones that support you, for Steve that was his parents driving him to practices and games all over Ontario and North America is just one small commitment made by his parents. ![]() Steve's success came to him at a young age, as people saw the talent in the young star. Growing up, Steve played for the York Simcoe Express AAA team. Steve was always an athlete, but he appreciated and loved hockey the most. Steve Downie grew up in Holland Landing, Ontario in 1987 with his parents and brother, Greg.
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