It’s wondrous the things that come to mind when you’re fishing, says Jack Walker, who took up the hobby this summer in his native Minnesota.
An off-season of contemplation has resulted in a position change with the Victoria Royals as Walker has decided to go full time to defence from forward.
“It hit me over the summer … I went back and forth on it in my mind and determined that [defence] is where the ice time was for me,” said Walker, an 18-year-old entering his third season with the Western Hockey League’s Royals.
“I prefer defence.”
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Walker has come full circle. He was originally recruited by the Royals as a 16-year-old defenceman in 2012-13 but was switched to forward after 20 games in that rookie season, finishing with nine goals and 22 points in 58 contests. Last season, in which Walker was limited to 48 regular-season games because of mononucleosis, was spent totally as a forward with seven goals and 15 points. Walker phoned Cam Hope in the off-season informing the Victoria GM of his desire to move back to the blueline. The Royals GM agreed to the move.
“I realize I have to prove myself back there,” said Walker.
On the smaller side and listed between five-foot-nine and five-foot-11, Walker hit the gym over the summer and has been skating between 170 to 175 pounds after playing last season at about 160.
“I make up for lack of size with speed,” said Walker. The move gives the Royals three offensive, puck-moving blueliners alongside Joe Hicketts and Travis Brown. Walker was paired with Ryan Gagnon for most of the first three exhibition games last weekend and also saw some time with Jake Kohlhauser. The Walker-Gagnon pairing could be an effective one this season with each complementing the other.
“[Gagnon] is more defensive and we work well together … he’s very patient with the puck,” said Walker.
Walker, used at the top and also on the side over the weekend, gives Victoria a second-team power play threat at the point behind Hicketts and Brown. Off the ice, he joins the Royals’ leadership group. He’s only 18 but already into his third WHL season.
“Yeah, I guess I’m feeling older … showing some of the younger guys how to present themselves at the rink,” he said.
The Walker family has already made an impact on the franchise. Older brother Ben played 21Ú2 seasons for the Royals as a forward and graduated last spring as one of the club’s top offensive producers.
Ben Walker wasn’t drafted but has received an invitation to the NHL rookie/prospects camp of the Winnipeg Jets later this month. He is the oldest of the three hockey-playing Walker brothers. Youngest brother Sammy Walker was a 2014 WHL bantam draft pick of the Medicine Hat Tigers and will play high school this year in the family’s hometown of Edina, Minnesota. Sister Bailey Walker is a U.S. collegiate NCAA gymnast at Southeast Missouri.
Jack Walker admits that being overlooked in the 2014 NHL draft is what drove him to bulk up over the summer.
“Draft day, either way, is emotional whether you are drafted or not,” he says.
“[Being overlooked] gave me more motivation.”
The Royals (0-2-1) continue their seven-game WHL pre-season with tilts at Sun God Arena in Delta against Kamloops Blazers on Saturday and Kelowna Rockets on Sunday.
