Scott Walker (ice hockey)
Canadian forward who played 17 NHL seasons and later coached.
Scott Walker is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 17 seasons in the NHL, primarily with the Vancouver Canucks, Nashville Predators, and Carolina Hurricanes. He is notable for scoring the first goal at Jobing.com Arena and for having the second-longest wait in NHL history before appearing in a playoff game (589 career games). After retiring, he became head coach of the Guelph Storm and later served as co-owner and team president of that OHL club.
Quick Facts
- Played For
- Vancouver Canucks / Nashville Predators / Carolina Hurricanes / Washington Capitals
- Position
- Defence (1993–96) / Right wing (1996–2010)
- Shoots
- Right
- Height Ft
- 5
- Height In
- 10
- Weight Lb
- 196
- Ntl Team
- CAN
- Birth Date
- 1973-07-19
- Birth Place
- Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
- Draft
- 124th overall
- Draft Year
- 1993
- Draft Team
- Vancouver Canucks
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Walker began his major junior career with the Owen Sound Platers of the OHL in 1991–92, after two seasons in the OHA Junior 'B' league. He was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the fifth round, 124th overall, of the 1993 NHL entry draft. Walker spent parts of five seasons with Vancouver, transitioning from defence to forward, before being claimed by the Nashville Predators in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft. He played eight seasons with Nashville, serving as interim captain in 2002–03 and leading the team in scoring during the 2003–04 season, when the Predators made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Walker was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and played four seasons there, scoring his first career playoff goal—an overtime series clincher—against the Boston Bruins on May 14, 2009. He finished his playing career with the Washington Capitals in 2010.
Reader's Guide
Walker's significance lies in his durability and late-career playoff breakthrough. He played 589 regular-season games before his first playoff appearance, the second-longest wait in NHL history at the time. His overtime goal for Carolina in the 2009 playoffs helped the Hurricanes reach the Eastern Conference finals. After retiring, Walker transitioned to coaching, leading the Guelph Storm for five seasons, and later became co-owner and team president of the same OHL club. His career also included representing Canada at three Ice Hockey World Championships (1999, 2001, 2005). Walker's path from undrafted junior player to NHL regular and playoff hero exemplifies perseverance, and his post-playing role in junior hockey has kept him connected to the sport's development.
Did You Know?
- Walker scored the first goal at Jobing.com Arena on December 27, 2003.
- He was the first player to fight at General Motors Place after it opened.
- Walker played 589 NHL games before making his playoff debut, the second-longest wait in NHL history.
- He scored the series-clinching overtime goal for Carolina against Boston on May 14, 2009.
More in Carolina Hurricanes Players 1-24
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