- Nathan Walker
-
Nathan Walker Born 7 February 1994
Cardiff, Wales, United KingdomHeight 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Weight 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb) Position Forward Shoots Left Czech team
Former teamsHC Vitkovice Steel
Sydney Ice Dogs (AIHL)National team 
AustraliaPlaying career 2007–present Nathan Walker (born 7 February 1994) is an Australian ice hockey player currently playing for HC Vítkovice Steel of the Czech Extraliga. Walker, who was born in Wales, grew up in Australia and first played ice hockey there. He moved to the Czech Republic in 2007 in order to further his career, and joined the junior program of HC Vítkovice. He first played for the senior team in 2011, becoming the first Australian ice hockey player to play for a professional senior team in Europe. Walker represents Australia internationally, and first played for them at the 2011 IIHF World Championship Division II tournament, where he helped his team win their group and earn a promotion to Division I for the following year.
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Playing career
Walker first played ice hockey in 2007 when he joined HC Vitkovice Steel U18 of the Czech Extraliga U18.[1] He continued to play exclusively with the under 18 squad of HC Vitkovice Steel until the 2009–10 season where he joined HC Vitkovice Steel under-20 team who compete in the NOEN Extraliga U20.[1] Following the completion of the 2009–10 in the Czech Republic Walker returned to Australia to briefly play for the Sydney Ice Dogs of the Australian Ice Hockey League in the 2010 season. Walker returned to the Czech Republic to continue with both the under-18 and under-20 teams of HC Vitkovice Steel during the 2010–11 season.[1]
After the completion of the 2010–11 season Walker was called up to the Australian men's senior team to compete at the 2011 IIHF World Championship Division II Group A tournament which was being held in Melbourne, Australia.[1][2] Australia won the tournament and Walker finished the tournament with the best plus-minus (+7) and was voted the top player on the Australian team.[3][4]
On 9 October 2011, Walker suited up for Vítkovice's Extraliga club, making him the first Australian to play professionally in Europe.[5]
Personal life
Walker was born on 7 February 1994 in Wales.[6] At the age of 2 he moved with is mother, father and elder brother to Sydney, Australia. His father Wayne played rugby leading to Nathan playing for the Cronulla Sharks junior team until the age of 15.[6] His older brother, Ryan, also played hockey representing Australia in the national under-18 squad.[6]
Besides English Walker has also learnt to speak Czech, Slovakian, and some Russian during his time in the Czech Republic.[6]
Career statistics
Medal record Competitor for AustraliaIce hockey Ice Hockey World Championships Gold 2011 Melbourne Division II Group A Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2007–08 HC Vitkovice Steel U18 Czech-U18 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2008–09 HC Vitkovice Steel U18 Czech-U18 33 6 9 15 16 5 1 0 1 4 2009–10 HC Vitkovice Steel U18 Czech-U18 28 22 20 42 47 2 2 2 4 4 2009–10 HC Vitkovice Steel U20 Czech-U20 23 5 5 10 16 1 0 0 0 0 2010 Sydney Ice Dogs AIHL 4 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2010–11 Czech-U18 Extraliga U18 10 4 10 14 22 — — — — — 2010–11 HC Vitkovice Steel U20 Czech-U20 35 20 20 40 20 — — — — — AIHL totals 4 0 1 1 0 — — — — — International statistics
Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 2011 Australia WC (Div II) 4 4 2 6 4 Senior int'l totals 4 4 2 6 4 References
- ^ a b c d "Nathan Walker". Elite Prospects. http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=101430. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
- ^ "2011 IIHF World Championship Division II Group A". International Ice Hockey Federation. http://www.iihf.com/channels1011/wm-iia/statistics.html. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
- ^ "Plus-minus leaders". International Ice Hockey Federation. 2011-04-10. http://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/263/IHM263000_85G_7_0.pdf. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Best Players of Each Team Selected by Coaches". International Ice Hockey Federation. 2011-04-10. http://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/263/IHM263000_85J_1_0.pdf. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
- ^ "Australian Makes History in Extraliga Debut". Czech Hockey Report. 2011-10-09. http://czechhockeyreport.blogspot.com/2011/10/australian-makes-history-in-extraliga.html. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- ^ a b c d Baum, Greg (9 April 2011). "The iceman cometh". The Age. Archived from the original on 2011-04-11. http://www.theage.com.au/sport/the-iceman-cometh-20110408-1d7st.html. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
Categories:- 1994 births
- Australian ice hockey players
- HC Vítkovice players
- Living people
- People from Cardiff
- Sydney Ice Dogs players
- Welsh emigrants to Australia
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