Sammy Walker’s whole hockey career has been spent in or around Minnesota and the Midwest. In fact, he’s spent his whole life in Minnesota. He’s dealt with the snowy cold winters and the rewarding cool summers for the past 25 years of his life. The furthest away he’s lived is just a couple hours down south in Des Moines, Iowa playing for the Minnesota Wild’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Iowa Wild.
It was in the middle of his three-and-a-half-hour drive from Des Moines back to Minnesota where he received the news that for the first time in his lifetime, he wouldn’t be playing for a Minnesota team anymore. He wouldn’t be living primarily in his home state for the next couple of months. He would be trading the snowy cold winters for 75-degree weather. For the first time in his career, Walker was traded.
Minnesota Origins
If you think of players that embody the state of Minnesota, there are many you can choose from. Brock Faber who was born and raised in the state and has become a superstar with the Wild is a fan favorite. Nick Bjugstad and Zach Parise are other examples who were born in the Land of 10,000 Lakes and played for the Wild. Walker was bound to be just like them.
Born in Edina, Walker like many others grew up playing hockey. For four years, he played the sport for his high school in Edina even being named captain in his senior year and winning the Minnesota Mr Hockey award, a prestigious accolade that NHL players like Bjugstad and Ryan McDonagh have won.
While Walker spent time in nearby states with the Lincoln Stars and the Sioux City Musketeers, it seemed like his time in the Midwest was coming to an end. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2017 NHL Draft with their seventh-round pick.
When choosing where to go to continue his hockey career before turning pro, however, Walker decided to stay in the place he knew best. He committed to the University of Minnesota, joining a prestigious hockey program that has produced many NHL players including multiple on the Utah Hockey Club like Logan Cooley and Bjugstad. In four seasons with the Golden Gophers, Walker had 85 points in 105 games, won multiple awards like Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and was named captain of the team in only his second season. He went on to be the Golden Gophers’ captain for the next three years becoming the first ever player to do so with the university.
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By the time Walker left Minnesota, time was running out for him and the Lightning to agree on an entry-level deal. Eventually, he opted not to sign with the Lightning stating it didn’t feel like the right fit. Instead, Walker’s path led him back home to the Wild, signing an entry-level deal with his hometown NHL team. It was a full-circle moment for the Edina native, following a dream that many Minnesota kids have.
Walker started his time with the Wild down in the AHL. However, he was quickly recalled to the NHL that winter. Playing nine games with the Wild, he scored his first NHL goal against the Winnipeg Jets. Another dream come true for the young forward.
Walker ended up playing 156 games with Iowa and scoring 104 points. He was named to the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic and led Iowa in scoring during the 2023-24 season with 45 points. Walker also appeared in 13 games with the Wild.
It was clear during this season that Walker’s time in the Wild organization was coming to an end. Despite being a fan favorite and one Minnesotans were cheering for, his production had dried up. With Iowa, he only had 11 points in 30 games before the AHL All-Star Break. It was clear that a change of scenery was needed.
A New Chapter
The Tucson Roadrunners needed something. Due to injuries to multiple players on their parent club, Utah, multiple players would be called up and moved around. Their leading scorer, Josh Doan, was called up due to injuries to Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley. Maveric Lamoureux, who was expected to be a massive part of their blue line, was quickly recalled by Utah thanks to injuries to Sean Durzi, John Marino, and Robert Bortuzzo. Even in net, Jaxson Stauber was in and out of Tucson due to injuries up north. It also didn’t help that both Patrik Koch and Milos Keleman left the team to return to Czechia.
With the team hoping to make the playoffs for the third straight season and in a battle for the seventh and last playoff spot in the Pacific Division, they were in the market for someone who could help them. Enter Walker who had a past of being an offensive threat. With the Wild looking to move on, Utah pulled the trigger, acquiring Walker during the AHL All-Star Break and immediately sending him down to the Roadrunners.
Being traded during the break was actually somewhat convenient. Walker was heading back up to Minnesota anyway to visit family when the call came in.
“I was driving up from Iowa,” Walker said. “I turned around and went to go get my stuff. It was All-Star Break, so I had a couple of days. I had time to pack up all my stuff and see my family.”
Walker had never spent any prolonged time in Tucson before the trade, but he had been to the city when Iowa played the Roadrunners last season. He had also met a couple of his new teammates before as well, giving him a little familiarity with his new team.
“We played here last year, and they came to us too. I had already seen the rink. I haven’t really got to explore the city, so it’ll be fun to do that. I like seeing new places and stuff. I know a couple of guys on the team too.”
Funny enough, Walker wouldn’t be flying to his new home. The Roadrunners were actually starting a seven-game road trip. He made his Roadrunner debut in San Jose against the San Jose Barracuda. It ended up being a memorable one as he provided exactly what the Roadrunners needed: offense.
Walker first assisted on Robbie Russo’s goal, which was his first point with the Roadrunners. Then, just 30 seconds later, he scored a goal of his own, which was his first with his new team. He later tallied another assist and the game-winning goal for a four-point night in his first game with the Roadrunners.
In his first nine games with the Roadrunners, Walker has scored eight points and has been a massive boost to their offense. Overall, he’s already a well-liked player in the locker room, and he’s given the team some much-needed speed. Unlike in Iowa, where the team was trending towards their second straight season with no playoffs, Walker is now with a team fighting every night to keep their playoff streak alive.
“I bring the energy, I bring the speed,” Walker said. “We’re trying to make playoffs. I’m just trying to do what I can to help the team win and get into the playoffs.”
As for his time in his new city, Walker hasn’t spent too much time exploring yet, granted he was traded during the AHL’s break and then was on a road trip for a couple of weeks with the Roadrunners. However, he’s already found one thing about his new home that he enjoys. The weather. In Des Moines, the highest the temperature has gotten is in the 50’s. In Minneapolis, it’s even colder with the highest being in the 40’s. In Tucson, Walker doesn’t have to worry about bundling up, as the average temperature has been in the 70’s or 80’s.
“The weather is incredible,” Walker said. “It doesn’t feel like winter. When I’m just sitting in my room, I feel like I should be outside doing something. I’m excited to explore more of the city and see what it has to offer.”
Walker’s move to Tucson ends his playing days in Minnesota for now. It doesn’t mean he’ll forget about his hometown or anything remotely close to that. He’s set to host his fifth annual hockey camp this summer in Richfield, and he’ll always cherish fulfilling his dream with the Wild. However, he’s excited to start a new chapter in Arizona and hopefully continue his great play throughout the rest of the season with the Roadrunners. On top of that, he’s excited for his parents to come and watch him play, although, with the cold winters in Minnesota, it probably won’t be too hard to drag them out to Tucson.
“It was incredible to be able to play so close to home, especially for my family, my parents. It’s also fun having a new chapter, a new experience, and a new challenge. It’s incredible weather. I’m so used to the Midwest winters. It’s even fun for my parents too. I know my dad will come down.”
Minnesota will always be home to Walker, and he’ll always call Minnesota home. It might be the end of the relationship between him and the Wild, but they have sent him off to the Roadrunners with the hope he can continue thriving in the AHL and his hockey career and become a fan favorite in Utah and Tucson just like he was in Minnesota. It’s a final gift given to someone who has done nothing but play with pride and love for his state as Walker begins a new chapter of his life down south.
