Young 16-year-old hockey player Max Akerson has tragically passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, and the entire community is in mourning. With North Americans reeling from their Thanksgiving or well into their holiday shopping, shock, and sadness blanket the hockey communities across Minnesota, into Canada, and throughout the United States. <a href='https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/hockey-community-mourns-loss-of-champlin-park-teen/ar-AA1uR0GH?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>The hockey community mourned the passing of Champlin Park teenager</a> Max Akerson, who died after a courageous fight against liver cancer earlier this week. His mother announced the sad news on social media, and it reached out to every person who followed him. Today at 10:20 a.m. Max tried to get out of bed and collapsed in his dad's arms. He took his last breath with his parents' hands on him. He is free from pain and suffering. He fought so long and hard. He did not let cancer win. He lived every day. - Max Akerson's mother <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/kare11/status/1861991669760926031'> </a></blockquote></div> An inspiration to many, Max had been diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer in 2021 but did return to the ice after undergoing surgery and aggressive treatment. The cancer returned, and he died on Tuesday, three days after his 16th birthday. Tributes have poured in from the local hockey community and beyond, celebrating the young goaltender's potential, determination, and vibrant spirit. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/CPboyshockey/status/1861808695757144087'> </a></blockquote></div> Our deepest condolences go out to Max Akerson's family and friends. His legacy will endure in the hearts of everyone he inspired. A campaign is getting underway encouraging people across the US and Canada to leave their hockey sticks out for Max. Please, if you can, take part in this grassroots tribute to his memory.