Sammy Walker (ice hockey)

Sammy Walker
Walker with Team USA in 2023
Born (1999-06-07) June 7, 1999 (age 25)
Edina, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Minnesota Wild
Iowa Wild (AHL)
National team  United States
NHL draft 200th overall, 2017
Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing career 2022–present

Samuel “Sammy” Walker (born June 7, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning with the 200th overall selection.

Playing career

Amateur

Walker played for Edina High School for four seasons, finishing with 167 points. Walker was the team captain his senior year. After the 2017–18 season, he won the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award.[1]

He began his collegiate hockey career for the University of Minnesota during the 2018–19 season. In his full collegiate tenure with the Golden Gophers he became the first three-year captain in school history.

Professional

After his collegiate career, Walker opted to become a free agent after declining to sign with draft club, the Tampa Bay Lightning. On August 18, 2022, he opted to sign with home state team, the Minnesota Wild, in agreeing to a two-year, entry-level contract.[2] After attending his first Wild training camp and pre-season, Walker was re-assigned to begin his professional career in the AHL with affiliate the Iowa Wild to open the 2022–23 season.[3]

Walker was recalled from Iowa on December 9, 2022.[4] He scored his first NHL goal on December 27, 2022 in a game versus the Winnipeg Jets on an empty net goal.[5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2014–15 Edina High MNHS 25 3 3 6 6 2 2 1 3 0
2015–16 Edina High MNHS 25 19 18 37 14 2 0 1 1 0
2016–17 Edina High MNHS 25 22 24 46 6 3 2 4 6 0
2016–17 Lincoln Stars USHL 4 0 0 0 6 — — — — —
2017–18 Edina High MNHS 25 28 30 58 12 3 4 6 10 4
2017–18 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 17 2 7 9 4 — — — — —
2018–19 University of Minnesota B1G 37 10 16 26 16 — — — — —
2019–20 University of Minnesota B1G 37 11 19 30 33 — — — — —
2020–21 University of Minnesota B1G 31 13 16 29 12 — — — — —
2021–22 University of Minnesota B1G 38 14 13 27 20 — — — — —
2022–23 Iowa Wild AHL 56 27 21 48 23 1 0 1 1 0
2022–23 Minnesota Wild NHL 9 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
2023–24 Iowa Wild AHL 70 14 31 45 24 — — — — —
2023–24 Minnesota Wild NHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
NHL totals 13 1 1 2 0 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2023 United States WC 4th 1 0 0 0 0
Senior totals 1 0 0 0 0

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
College
Big Ten Freshman of the Year 2019 [6]
Big Ten Freshmen Team
Frank Pond Rookie of the Year [7]
Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team [8]
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention 2020 [9]
John Mariucci Most Valuable Player
All-Big Ten Academic Team
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Team 2021 [10]
Big Ten All-Tournament Team
AHCA All-American Scholar [11]
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar [12]
Academic All-Big Ten Team [13]
Preseason All-Big Ten First Team 2022
Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Team [14]
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
Senior CLASS Award First Team

References

  1. ^ Tribune, David La Vaque, Star (2018-03-11). "Edina's Sammy Walker named Mr. Hockey". MN Boys' Hockey Hub | High School Boys' Hockey News, Scores & Standings. Retrieved 2022-04-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Wild signs forward Sammy Walker to two-year, entry-level contract". Minnesota Wild. August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  3. ^ "Minnesota Wild reduces roster to 34". Minnesota Wild. October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Williams, Thomas P. (2022-12-10). "Wild recall AHL rookie sensation Sammy Walker". Hockey Wilderness. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  5. ^ "Wild vs. Jets - NHL Game Recap - December 27, 2022". ESPN. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  6. ^ "Walker Headlines Postseason Honors as B1G Freshman of the Year". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  7. ^ "Gophers Honor Team Award Winners". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  8. ^ "Walker Picks Up Preseason All-Big Ten Honor". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  9. ^ "Gophers Hand Out Team Awards". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  10. ^ "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  11. ^ "Fifth Annual AHCA 'All-American Scholars' Announced for Men's DI Hockey". American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  12. ^ "Big Ten Announces 2020-21 Distinguished Scholar Award Recipients". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  13. ^ "Big Ten Hockey Preseason Honors". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  14. ^ "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Minnesota Mr. Hockey
2018 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Big Ten Freshman of the Year
2018–19 		Succeeded by