Adam Walker (ice hockey) explained

Adam Walker
Position:Center
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:200
League:SNL
Team:Paisley Pirates
Former Teams:Fife Flyers
Guildford Flames
Swindon Wildcats
Cardiff Devils
Manchester Phoenix
Braehead Clan
Telford Tigers
Birth Date:1986 7, df=y
Birth Place:Kirkcaldy, Scotland
Career Start:2001
Career End:2015

Adam Walker (born 14 July 1986) is a Scottish professional ice hockey player. He is currently the head coach of the Paisley Pirates of the Scottish National League. He previously in the British Elite Ice Hockey League for the Cardiff Devils, Manchester Phoenix and the Braehead Clan.

Career

In 2001, Walker began his career icing for the Fife Flyers, his local team, playing at BNL level. Walker made his professional debut at only 14 years of age, registering an assist in his first game. Up until the 2003/04 season, Walker became much more of a regular player, icing on 31 occasions, and gaining his first professional goal. He also represented Great Britain at under 18 and under 20 levels contributing to 3 gold medals along the way and being named top scorer and best player of the tournament in his last appearance at under 20.

The following season, Walker remained in the BNL but moved to play for the Guildford Flames, as well as making several appearances for their U-19 team, the Guildford Phoenix. Again Walker was a regular player, turning out another 31 times. Walker was again on the move the following summer, and after the collapse of the BNL signed for the Swindon Wildcats in the EPL. This proved to be Walker's breakout season, in which he managed a total of 63 points in 41 games.

This return of points led to him signing for the Cardiff Devils, a team playing in the top tier of British Ice Hockey, the EIHL. Opportunities proved to be limited though, and so in the summer of 2006, Walker moved north to link up with fellow Scot Tony Hand, the player/coach of the Manchester Phoenix.

In his first season as a Phoenix player, Walker gave a return of 23 points in 58 games, a statistic which included a hat-trick against the Basingstoke Bison. He was also selected to play in the EIHL All Star game.

Walker made the decision to stay with the Phoenix the following season, and featured in an injury hit season throughout 2007/08, managing to score 10 points along the way.

Walker's consistency and work rate again convinced head coach Hand to re-sign him for the 2008/09 campaign where he picked up 29 points in 69 games.

Walker stayed with the Phoenix for a fourth season through contract, despite the club's decision to move to the EPIHL and several Elite league teams chasing his signature. During the 2009/2010 season, Walker produced a career high of 51 goals and 102 points in 54 games.

It was announced that Walker would return to the Elite League, joining newcomers Braehead Clan for the 2010/2011 season. He re-signed for a second season with the Clan on 21 April 2011 where he produced his best points tally in the Elite League with the Clan scoring 26 points. Walker further extended his contract for a third season on 9 February 2012.

On 30 October 2013 Walker signed for the EPIHL's Telford Tigers.[1] On 3 June 2014 he returned to the Manchester Phoenix.

Walker retired after the 2014–15 season and became head coach of the Dundee Comets of the Scottish National League in 2016. In 2017, he was named head coach of the Paisley Pirates and came out of retirement to register himself as a player-head coach. He scored 22 goals in 13 games with a total of 37 points in his first season after his two-year retirement.

Throughout his professional career Walker has played a total of 701 games for club and represented Great Britain on 30 occasions.

Personal life

His younger brother Ben Walker is also a professional ice hockey player and is currently playing alongside him at the Paisley Pirates.

Career statistics

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2000–01Fife FlyersBNL1 0 1 1 0
2001–02Fife FlyersBNL2 0 0 0 01 0 0 0 0
2002–03Fife FlyersBNL9 0 0 0 06 0 1 1 0
2003–04Fife FlyersBNL31 0 4 4 08 1 0 1 0
2004–05Guildford FlamesBNL34 0 1 1 215 1 0 1 0
2004–05Guildford PhoenixEngland U195 8 9 17 6
2005–06Swindon WildcatsEPIHL41 24 39 63 226 1 3 4 2
2005–06Cardiff DevilsEIHL1 0 0 0 0
2006–07Manchester PhoenixEIHL52 13 9 22 182 0 1 1 0
2007–08Manchester PhoenixEIHL54 5 4 9 102 0 0 0 0
2008–09Manchester PhoenixEIHL54 15 9 24 62 0 0 0 0
2009–10Manchester PhoenixEPIHL54 49 53 102 163 1 1 2 0
2010–11Braehead ClanEIHL54 7 13 20 322 0 0 0 0
2011–12Braehead ClanEIHL54 12 14 26 122 0 0 0 0
2012–13Braehead ClanEIHL45 3 8 11 62 0 0 0 0
2013–14Telford TigersEPIHL37 15 25 40 142 1 0 1 2
2014–15Manchester PhoenixEPIHL44 13 23 36 64 1 2 3 2
2017–18Paisley PiratesSNL13 22 15 37 6
2018–19Paisley PiratesSNL10 15 19 34 8
2019–20Paisley PiratesSNL14 10 16 26 18
2021–22Paisley PiratesSNL12 3 11 14 4
EIHL totals314555711284120110
EPIHL totals176101140241581546106

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Telford Tigers Announces Signing of Adam Walker.