Nathan Walker assigned to Hershey Bears by Washington
Forward Nathan Walker is back on his way to Chocolate Town.
Walker returns to the Hershey Bears after starting the season in Washington with the Capitals right out of training camp. After playing only seven games with the Caps, he found himself on waivers, then claimed by Edmonton. Just two games for the Oilers would come and go before once again being played on waivers yet again and being reclaimed by Washington.
Now, Walker has been assigned to Hershey and will join the Bears, a team he has spent four seasons with.
Hershey returns to the ice Friday in Springfield. No word yet on whether Walker will join the team for the game or if he will receive his old number 12 back, currently in use by Jeremy Langlois.
UPDATE: Walker will wear 12 with Hershey. Jeremy Langlois will switch his number to 13.
Press release:
The Washington Capitals have assigned forward Nathan Walker to the Hershey Bears (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
The Sydney, Australia, native became the first Australian-national to play in the NHL on Oct. 7 versus the Montreal Canadiens. Walker scored his first NHL goal in his NHL debut and played in seven games for the Capitals this season. Additionally, Walker appeared in two games for the Edmonton Oilers.
Walker registered 23 points (11g, 12a) in 58 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL) during the 2016-17 season. The 5’9″, 186-pound left wing ranked eighth among Bears skaters in plus/minus (+11) and tied for ninth in goals. In addition, Walker set a career high with two game-winning goals and tied his career high in multi-goal games (2). During the 2015-16 season, Walker registered 41 points (17g, 24a) in 73 games, setting career highs in points, goals, assists and games played. He finished the season ranked third on the team in plus/minus (+20), fourth in goals and points, fifth in games played and sixth in assists. Walker was also named Hershey’s 2016 Man of the Year, Unsung Hero and Most Improved Player. Walker earned 79 points (34g, 45a) in 202 career AHL games with Hershey.
Walker, 23, holds the distinction of being the first Australian drafted to the NHL after Washington selected him in the third round,89th overall, in the 2014 NHL Draft. Walker played junior-level hockey in the Czech Republic, participating in 213 games in the Czech League’s Vitkovice program. Additionally, Walker appeared in 29 games in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms and recorded 27 points (7g, 20a) in the 2012-13 season. In the year prior to the 2014 draft, Walker registered 11 points (five goals, six assists) and 40 penalty minutes in 43 games with the Bears. Walker represented Australia at the 2011 IIHF World Championship Division II tournament and at the 2012 World Championship Division 1 Group B tournament.
