Denis Akimoto enters his second season in the BCEHL and takes on the head coaching role for the U18 Greater Vancouver Canadians for the 2024-25 season. Akimoto took on coaching roles last season with Vancouver Thunderbirds Minor Hockey Association and the Delta Ice Hawks of the Pacific Junior Hockey League. He also runs a skills development program for many associations in the Lower Mainland.
Originally from Khabarovsk, Russia, Akimoto played professional hockey around the globe with stops in Japan, Germany, and Poland before beginning his coaching journey in Canada. He attended University in Tokyo, Japan, and possesses a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, along with a minor in Sociology and Psychology.