Nathan Walker is potentially days away from becoming the first Australian to play in the National Hockey League and its garnering attention in his home country.
Sunday, Walker landed a full-page spread in The Daily Telegraph, Australia’s biggest newspaper. Entitled Lord of the Rink, the story details Walker’s tenacity and dedication to the sport.
Photo: @DanClarkSports
Dubbed by Washington DC media as a “little wrecking ball”, Trotz has always been a strong supporter of Walker.
“You talk about a guy that brings it every shift, he does,” Trotz said.
“He has an effect on the game. He may not be the most natural goal scorer, but he has an effect on the pace of play, the zone play, he wears people out, he’s in your face, and he gets people off their game.”
The story goes on to detail how Walker’s success is helping grow the Australian Ice Hockey League, which recently produced record attendance and online viewership figures.
Walker, at least from the outside, appears to be a lock to make the Capitals roster after spending four years in the organization. Walker, on Friday, was one of the team’s best players in its 4-1 loss.
Nathan Walker's out there just running over dudes pic.twitter.com/5A7s5TSgDI
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) September 30, 2017
Two shot attempts in 10 seconds for Nathan Walker. Dude is a firecracker pic.twitter.com/cyk4q0d7D6
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) September 30, 2017
According to Rick Williams, Walker’s publicist in Australia, the story comes on the biggest sporting day of the year in the country.
Sunday is the National Rugby League’s Grand Final, where 84,000 people are cramming into the old Olympic Stadium. The Melbourne Storm are playing the North Queensland Cowboys.
Walker played rugby for the Cronulla Sharks junior team until age 15.
Photos: Rick Williams
