Scott Walker was a throwback player who quite literally fought his way to the NHL level in an era in which fighting was a much bigger part of the game. Despite being only 5-10 and 196 pounds, he amassed 606 penalty minutes in 151 games in his last two full seasons in the AHL before making and sticking in the NHL. He, however, was not an old school enforcer who could not play a regular shift or contribute in other ways. Rather, he was a regular shift player who was also an old school warrior who stepped up whenever appropriate without fear. More than any other Canes player who ever dropped the mitts, Scott Walker was completely fearless. There was no calculation or thought to protect himself. When he went at it, he went at it.
Walker joined the Carolina Hurricanes for the start of the 2006-07 season and contributed immediately. In that season, he collected 21 goals and 30 assists playing a rugged, old school brand of hockey. He battled injuries a bit during the next two regular seasons notching 19 goals and 28 assists in only 99 games.
But he was ready to go when the Canes made the 2008-09 playoffs. In those playoffs, he seemed to be right in the middle of things when they became exciting. In game five versus Boston, he clocked Aaron Ward in the middle of a player scrum late in the game which stirred up controversy for the rest of the series. Then he spent his one goal of those playoffs for maximum value when he beat Tim Thomas on a partial breakaway in overtime to win the series and punch the Hurricanes ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. The goal and his celebration that followed was one of the most memorable moments of the entire playoff run that featured many. It was only made more special when it was learned that his wife was battling cancer at the time.
In all, Scott Walker played a mere 213 regular season games in a Canes uniform scoring 43 goals and picking up 60 assists. But he is still remembered fondly by Canes fans for his undersized hockey warrior persona and his heroics in the 2009 playoffs.
Go Canes!
