Sammy Walker (ice hockey)
| Sammy Walker | |||
|---|---|---|---|
_by_Sandro_Halank%E2%80%93134.jpg) Walker with Team USA in 2023 | |||
| Born |
June 7, 1999 Edina, Minnesota, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| AHL team Former teams |
Tucson Roadrunners Minnesota Wild | ||
| National team |
 United States | ||
| NHL draft |
200th overall, 2017 Tampa Bay Lightning | ||
| Playing career | 2022–present | ||
Samuel Walker (born June 7, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League (AHL). 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 second (Grant Potulny) three-year captain in school history.
Professional
After his collegiate career, Walker opted to become a free agent after declining to sign with his draft club, the Tampa Bay Lightning. On August 18, 2022, he opted to sign with his home state team, the Minnesota Wild, 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]
During the 2024–25 season, Walker's development within the Wild organization stagnated, producing just 2 goals and 11 points through 30 appearances in the AHL with the Iowa Wild. On February 4, 2025, Walker was traded by the Wild to the Utah Hockey Club in exchange for future considerations.[6]
At the completion of his contract with the Utah Mammoth, Walker opted to remain within the orgnazation, signing as a free agent to a one-year AHL contract to continue with affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, on July 6, 2026.[7]
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 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2024–25 | Iowa Wild | AHL | 30 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2024–25 | Tucson Roadrunners | AHL | 31 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2025–26 | Tucson Roadrunners | AHL | 57 | 12 | 16 | 28 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 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 | [8] |
| Big Ten Freshmen Team | ||
| Frank Pond Rookie of the Year | [9] | |
| Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team | [10] | |
| All-Big Ten Honorable Mention | 2020 | [11] |
| John Mariucci Most Valuable Player | ||
| All-Big Ten Academic Team | ||
| Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Team | 2021 | [12] |
| Big Ten All-Tournament Team | ||
| AHCA All-American Scholar | [13] | |
| Big Ten Distinguished Scholar | [14] | |
| Academic All-Big Ten Team | [15] | |
| Preseason All-Big Ten First Team | 2022 | |
| Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Team | [16] | |
| Big Ten Sportsmanship Award | ||
| Senior CLASS Award First Team | ||
References
- ↑ Tribune, David La Vaque, Star (March 11, 2018). "Edina's Sammy Walker named Mr. Hockey". MN Boys' Hockey Hub | High School Boys' Hockey News, Scores & Standings. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Wild signs forward Sammy Walker to two-year, entry-level contract". Minnesota Wild. August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ↑ "Minnesota Wild reduces roster to 34". Minnesota Wild. October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ↑ Williams, Thomas P. (December 10, 2022). "Wild recall AHL rookie sensation Sammy Walker". Hockey Wilderness. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ↑ "Wild vs. Jets - NHL Game Recap - December 27, 2022". ESPN. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ↑ "Utah acquires Sammy Walker from the Minnesota Wild". Utah Mammoth. February 4, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Roadrunners sign forward Sammy Walker to one-year AHL contract". Tucson Roadrunners. July 6, 2026. Retrieved July 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Walker Headlines Postseason Honors as B1G Freshman of the Year". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Gophers Honor Team Award Winners". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Walker Picks Up Preseason All-Big Ten Honor". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Gophers Hand Out Team Awards". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Fifth Annual AHCA 'All-American Scholars' Announced for Men's DI Hockey". American Hockey Coaches Association. April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Big Ten Announces 2020-21 Distinguished Scholar Award Recipients". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Big Ten Hockey Preseason Honors". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ↑ "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database