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Royals Report – Catching up with Ben Walker

The DUBNetwork recently caught up with former Victoria Royals forward Ben Walker to reflect on his time in the WHL and discuss his time in professional hockey.  While more recent Royals fans may be more familiar with younger brother Jack Walker, Ben was the original speedster from Edina, Minnesota.

Recognizable for his speed and energy, along with his fiery red hair, Walker quickly became a fan favourite in Victoria after coming to the team in 2011 as an 18-year-old standout with the Edina High School Hornets. Reflecting on the decision to come the CHL and Victoria, Walker said, “It was actually a very easy decision for me as to wanting to head out to the WHL. The hard part was leaving my family and past teammates behind. I come from a family of four siblings, and we’re all very close to each other. Everyone was very red eyed that day I departed.”

Photo: Jon Howe

It wasn’t long before Walker was reunited with part of his family, as younger brother Jack joined him on the Royals. “It was such a blessing to have him out there with me,” recalled Walker. “Being so far from home, to have him there with me was perfect for both of us. It was a help for him as a young guy on the team to have someone to help him learn the ranks, but also for me to have family there made things so much easier with being away from home.”

That brotherly love was also evident when Walker was asked to describe a memorable moment with Victoria, he noted “I have so many amazing memories of Victoria and the Royals family. It’s so difficult to pick just one. I have to say of the three years I spent there, probably my best memory is being a part of my brother’s first junior goal. I made a quick pass to Jack sitting back door. The smile on his face was so electric. And what made it even more special is that this was a televised game on the NHL Network so we both had many friends and family back home watching.”

After ageing out with Victoria after the 2013-14 season, Walker took part of both the Winnipeg Jets developmental and rookie camps in 2014. From there he earned himself an AHL professional contract with the Ice Caps, the Jets’ farm team in St. John’s, Newfoundland. When asked on moving from the milder west coast to the cooler east coast, Walker commented “It was a huge change as far as climate, from a pacific rainy winter (which felt more to me like an early spring due to being a Minnesota kid) to a deep snow, frostbiting tundra.” Other changes came with moving from a junior team to a professional team, “As far as community and brotherhood at the rink it was very similar. The age range was much greater, which means that some of the guys had wives and kids. Where as in juniors we were all with in a five year range, so we were a little more relateable to one another in juniors.”

Reflecting on the chance to play professional hockey with the Ice Caps, Walker said “It was an amazing feeling to be in the AHL. The professionalism between the management and players was top notch. We were treated so well, I couldn’t have asked for more. The guys on that team were amazing guys too, everyone on that squad were more of a family than anything else. The city of St.John’s was also a remarkable place to call home for a year. It was a small town which to me is great because it was quiet and the locals were kind in passing. The scenery was also beautiful, if you don’t mind a little cold and snow. St. John’s was nothing like any other city I’ve been too and I’d love to go back for a visit someday.”

Photo; Jonathan Kozub/Manitoba Moose

In 2015 Walker signed a contract with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL, which was also affiliated with the Winnipeg Jets. Although he was now playing closer to his home, Walker’s time in Manitoba didn’t go as he would have liked. “That was a bit of a tough year for me actually, because I spent more time that season in the ECHL than the AHL. It felt like a set back year. Tulsa (Oilers- ECHL) was a nice city, but didn’t feel like home to me. The guys on the team were all amazing people, and I loved many of the staff there. But I wasn’t exactly happy down there. The days that I spent up in Manitoba that season were heavily filled with stress as I knew that management saw me more of an ECHL player that season. I didn’t really feel like I was a part of the organisation anymore, and I felt as though they had moved on from seeing me as a prospect in their organisation. Which was hard for me emotionally because I had made such good friends with guys in the family there, and felt that my hard work during the previous season and off season weren’t seen by the higher-ups. But I do know that that’s the business. New guys come in, old guys move out, regardless of whether “it’s only a game” it’s still a business, and a tricky one at that.”

Seeking a change of scenery, Walker made the jump in 2016-17 to Europe and signed a contract with HC Ceske Budejovice of the 2nd Czech Republic Hockey League. Unfortunately for Walker, injuries took their toll. “This was also a very rough season for me as far as injuries as I played sixteen games and needed to end short for hip surgery,”  said Walker. “But I have nothing but good things to say about Budves as an organisation and as far as the city.”

Walker was on the move again for the 2017-18 season, landing with EHC Freiburg of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany. “Moving over to Germany was a pretty smooth transition for me,” said Walker of the move to Germany. “I had played the previous season in the Czech Republic so I had an idea on how things worked, but going to Freiburg was a little easier because everyone is a part of the team and throughout the city spoke English.” Again however, the injuries took their toll and he was limited to only 12 games. “Ben was a fan favourite while playing for EHC Freiburg hockey club,” commented Karl Heidegger,  Director of Hockey Operations for EHC Freiburg. “He brought a lot of energy on the ice and everyone loved his attitude. Our fans passionately supported him even when he was struggling with injuries. We all wish him the best for his future.”

Photo- EHC Freiburg / Patrick Seeger 

A great aspect about playing hockey in Europe was being able to take in the sights. “I got to see Prague, Bratislava, Vienna, Colmar, Geneva and also the many cities I traveled to for games. I have to say the best part I experienced in Europe though was the Black Forest in southwest Germany. Just a beautiful national park with many great trails.”

Through his travels Walker still stays in touch with some former teammates. “I got to see Tim Traber last season after my injury and during a holiday break. He was in Geneva which was only a couple of hours from Freiburg. I also have run into many other players over the last couple years while playing in various locations. I do keep in touch with guys through social media and occasionally texting. The guys I keep the most touch with are Tim and (Connor) Hellebuyck, though during the seasons sometimes it gets tough to keep a pin on each other with the busy game and travel schedules.”

When asked about some of his fondest memories of his time with the Royals, Walker said “The thing I miss the most was the family in Victoria. From the ownership through the staff, all the way through the players, billets, and fans. It was a really great family. People genuinely cared for one another and everyone was always looking out for each other’s best interests. I can guarantee that someday I’ll head back out there to see everyone again.”

In a family known for their on-ice speed, Walker was asked who was the fastest skater between himself, Jack and younger bother Sammy. “That’s a funny question because I’m pretty sure if you ask all three of us, everyone will say them self. But the truth is I think we are all fast in very different ways. Jack’s first few steps are the quickest. Short races, quick in and out of corners are his thing. Sammy is shifty, I swear that kid doesn’t have bones and only cartilage in his body. He’s like a Michael Jackson on the ice with the slippery movements in and out of traffic. I’m not sure how he does that. I have to admit he’s gotten around me a few times with that agility during summer training. I think I have the most overall speed though. Going the length of the ice, or if we were to race a lap or further around the rink I don’t think I’d ever lose that one. But Sammy would beat me going around cones and jack on a blue to red line race.”

With a career that took him from coast-to-coast in Canada and then to the heart of Europe, Walker now will turn the page on playing hockey professionally. “I’m in the process of starting my chapter two. Concussions have ended my career so I’m trying to figure out what my next stage in life is going to look like. It is a little stressful at times, but things always seem to come together exactly how our maker’s intending for them to.”