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Annapolis mayor Gavin Buckley is Australian. He wants Nathan Walker to play in the Stadium Series game.

By Donya Abramo

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February 20, 2018 7:37 pm

On Tuesday, work began on the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in preparation for the Stadium Series game. Annapolis mayor Gavin Buckley joined NHL Deputy Commissioner, Bill Daly, and US Naval Academy Superintendent, VADM Walter E. “Ted” Carter at a news conference to mark the occasion.

During the press gaggle, Mayor Buckley gave Nathan Walker a shoutout, and made a plea to the Capitals to call the Aussie back up to the big leagues. Buckley’s fondness for the first Australian in the NHL wasn’t random, however.

“I know you think I probably sound like I was born in Maryland, but I wasn’t. I am originally from Australia,” Buckley said, a little tongue-in-cheek.

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“I’ll have to put a quick shout out to the one Australian that’s playing for the Caps now, Nathan Walker. If you could just bring him up for this game, that’d be great,” Buckley added. “Because in Australia, being in a hockey game is like a Jamaican bobsled team. It doesn’t happen very often.”

Perhaps Buckley is on to something. After all, Nathan Walker was included on the team roster on a Stadium Series shirt.

The Capitals have also freed up at least one roster spot by placing Taylor Chorney on waivers.

It’s all starting to make so much sense now… 🤔

Buckley was elected as mayor of Annapolis in November 2017. He moved to Maryland from Perth, Australia, but was born in South Africa. We hope he will still turn out to Rock the Red Blue on March 3, whether or not Walker gets called up.

If all else fails, Buckley can still snap up a Walker Stadium Series jersey from the NHL international store. At least while stocks last.

As for Nathan Walker, he’s performing well back with the Hershey Bears. On Monday, Walker scored a goal against the Toronto Marlies to put the Bears up 3-1. That tally gave Walker his fourth goal in his last 13 games for the Hershey Bears.

Oh, and he’s getting plenty of time on the penalty kill.

S/T to NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti for first tweeting.

Headline photo: @Capitals

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