After four years of playing for the Hershey Bears, Australian native Nathan Walker is ready and determined to do everything he can to finally make it in the big leagues – that includes showing up to Kettler Capitals Iceplex a month early to work with strength and conditioning coach Mark Nemish.
In early June, Walker was the first player re-signed by the Capitals, when he secured a two-way, two-year contract with the organization. With the many changes being made to the Caps’ roster this year, Walker has a viable chance of securing the title of the first Australian to ever play in the NHL.
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In an interview with CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Tarik El-Bashir on Wednesday, the small but gritty Walker emphasized that he’s ready to “grind it out” in order to achieve his dream. During the 2016-17 season, Walker scored 17 goals and registered 41 points, but it was his work in front of the net that drew raves from the coaching staff.
Caps head coach Barry Trotz has previously expressed his confidence in Walker’s ability to do just that, saying “I don’t know when, but he’s going to play in the National Hockey League.”
During the interview, Walker said that that he’s prepared to make sure that he’s in the right mindset to successfully accomplish his goal.
“The coaching staff and the players here are all just working hard and trying to get to that next level, so I think that’s just the mindset I’ve got to come in with,” Walker said.
Walker revealed that he’ll be focusing on refining and perfecting the smaller details of his play, such as stick placement, in order to be competitive at the NHL level.
“Pretty much all the little details need to be a lot better in order to make the team and stay up here ultimately,” Walker said.
If Walker is able to obtain a spot on the Caps’ bench this season, it will be a huge moment for the Australian hockey community (however small that community might be). Walker’s journey to the NHL, begninning when he became the first Australian to play in the AHL, has been a source of pride for many hockey lovers in Australia. In October 2016, Trotz shared his own knowledge of the Aussies’ love for Walker.
“My daughter was in Australia for the last year and she saw a lot of Caps jerseys,” Trotz said. “When a couple people found out that her dad works for the Caps, they didn’t know what he did, the first thing they did was ask about Nathan Walker. She did a hockey class there, so… he’s actually inspiring young people in Australia even though it’s probably not as big news to us here, it’s pretty big news I think back there especially in that Sydney area.”
While Walker has his sights set on making Australian hockey history, he’s also focused on one other very important thing: his skincare. After being asked whether he ever feels robbed of a true summer due to his international hockey travel and consequent lack of much direct sun exposure, Walker responded, “I know at least a I’ll have good skin when I grow up I think, so that might be a positive from it.”
Cheers to that mate.
Full transcription of interview
Tarik El-Bashir: Nathan, it’s been a little bit of a grind for you since you were drafted by the Capitals a few years ago. You’ve played in the Czech league, you played for the USHL, you played four years for the Bears. What is it like right now knowing you’re on the verge of achieving your dream of being the first Australian to play in the NHL?
Nathan Walker: It’s pretty big, but at the end of the day I’ve still gotta grind it out like you said and push for that.
El-Bashir: Your coach down in Hershey, Troy Mann, said you’re as close as anybody. What’s it like when you hear some reassuring words like that from a guy who knows?
Walker: It’s definitely a confidence booster, that’s for sure. You know I’ve been down there for four years now so hopefully I can prove a point and try to get my chance up here.
El-Bashir: What do feel like you need to do when you come into training camp to close the deal?
Walker: I think just work. The coaching staff and the players here are all just working hard and trying to get to that next level, so I think that’s just the mindset I’ve got to come in with.
El-Bashir: What are some of the little things you feel like you need to work on to become a productive NHL player?
Walker: I think just little plays, whether it’s in the defensive zone or offensive zone, just stick placement and stuff like that. Pretty much all the little details need to be a lot better in order to make the team and stay up here ultimately.
El-Bashir: A lot of the veterans I’ve talked to, you know this roster has gone through some change, and there are going to be some younger players. They feel like that youth might be able to help them a little bit. What’s your feeling about that?
Walker: I’d like to think that the young guys can help. I think that young guys bring a little bit of energy and speed. Hopefully it all works out.
El-Bashir: You always get here a little bit early, to get adjusted to the time change and everything. Why do you feel that’s important going into training camp?
Walker: I think that just to be around here and get ready for camp like you said. You know skating everyday and everything like that. It’s just a little tough to get ice time when I need it and get to do all the on-ice training and everything like that. But it’s great coming here a month early, the guys are always happy to see me and all that, so that’s good.
El-Bashir: You make a living right there in front of the crease, especially offensively, tipping pucks. When we saw you out there today John Carlson was unleashing that howitzer of a shot. What’s it like standing there watching that puck come at you and you’re trying to redirect it?
Walker: It’s good. I’m sure he knows where the puck’s going so I don’t think he’s going to hit me. Sometimes you just got to get to that area of the game in order to score those types of goals. It’s always good to work on them after practice:
El-Bashir: A couple of fun questions. You and I were joking before about about how you never really get to experience summer, or at least a full summer, because you head back to Sydney after the season with Hershey. What’s that like, and what’s it like to get off the plane when it’s like 98 degrees here?
Walker: Yeah, I get on the plane and it’s a little chilly back home. But it’s not too bad, it’s usually 50 or 60 degrees back home so it’s pretty good. But it’s nice to be in the sun and feel that heat again.
El-Bashir: You don’t feel like you’re being robbed a little bit, going from winter to winter?
Walker: I know at least a I’ll have good skin when I grow up I think, so that might be a positive from it.
El-Bashir: Just one more for you. Your nickname back in Australia, maybe I should have known this, was Stormy. Where did that come from?
Walker: I think it happened when I was really young at the old in-line rinks. I’d throw on those plastic skates where you throw your shoes in them. You’d hear me skating around, just the clunk of the skates, and I just kept breaking things when I was younger skating around the rink, so I think it originated from that.
El-Bashir: Thanks for your time Nathan.
Walker: Cheers, thanks.
