The game of hockey isn’t quite a global sport like soccer or basketball is, but it’s definitely making its strides by blossoming in other parts of the world. Hockey has its challenges on why it might not be as popular as some would like: Ice surfaces aren’t readily available in numerous areas around the world, and the price to play and purchase equipment tends to limit a good portion of the public.
The country of Australian is known for their rugby, soccer, and Australian-rules football.
There’s 24-million people living in the country, so there’s not a ton of prominent professional athletes that make the jump over to North America, but it does has its fair share of talent playing in the NBA: Matthew Dellavedova, Thon Maker, Dante Exum, Andrew Bogut, and Ben Simmons being the most prominent.
Football and baseball has seen a few Aussies partake in the NFL and MLB over the years, but the sport of hockey has never seen anyone from the land down under suit up ice skates in the NHL before.
Until now.
The Washington Capitals announced on Friday that 23-year-old left winger Nathan Walker will officially become the first Australian to ever play in the NHL when he suits up for the Capitals home opener against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.
Walker moved from Cardiff, Wales to Syndey, Australia at the age of two before lacing up his first pair of inline skates when he was six.
To increase his chances of exposure and better his chances at graduating from minor to junior hockey, he moved to the Czech Republic at age 13. Walker played six years there before migrating to the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms prior to being selected in the third round, 89th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Caps.
Known as an energy player that has good speed and decent offensive capabilities, Walker could become a fixture in the Capitals bottom-six this season, as he has the skills to be more than just a pest on a team that likes to roll out four consistent lines that are capable of threading the back of the net.
He potted 79 points in 202 career AHL games split over four seasons with the Hershey Bears. He was named Hershey’s 2016 Man of the Year, Most Improved Player, and the team’s Unsung Hero after potting 17 goals and 24 assists in 73 games, and had the third highest team plus/minus at 20.
Internationally, Walker represented his country twice at the IIHF’s World Championship Division I and II tournaments.
Considering the sacrifices he made by moving away to pursue his dream of playing professional hockey as well as being passed over in the 2012 and 2013 entry drafts, it’s hard to not feel happy for Walker. The Capitals are coming off a disappointing season after claiming the president’s trophy, and experienced a lot of roster turnover, opening the door for the Aussie. He was named to the Capitals 23-man opening night roster earlier this week.
According to QuantHockey.com, Australia is set to join Japan, Lebanon, Hungary, Ireland and Lithuania as the countries that have had at least one player in the NHL. Australia has 20 rinks and over 4,800 registered men, women and junior aged players in the organized. Eight teams play in the Australia Ice Hockey League the highest level of hockey available in the country.
Walker was first influenced by The Mighty Ducks movies growing up, which is said to of inspired him and his brother growing up.
(h/t to Tom Gulitti)
