Nathan Walker Biography

Nathan Walker, born on 7 February 1994, is a professional ice hockey forward who has played in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues. He first represented Australia internationally at the 2011 IIHF World Championship Division II, contributing to his team’s group victory and promotion to Division I. Selected by the Washington Capitals in the third round of the 2014 NHL entry draft, he became the first Australian player to be drafted into the NHL. After developing in the American Hockey League, he joined the Capitals in 2017, marking the first time an Australian played in the NHL. In 2007, his coach Ivan Manco arranged for Walker to try out with HC Vítkovice in the Czech Republic, where Manco had connections. During breaks in the Czech season, he returned to Australia to play for the Sydney Ice Dogs, debuting in 2010 at age 16. On 9 October 2011, he made his senior debut for HC Vítkovice in the Czech Extraliga, becoming the first Australian to play professionally in Europe and the youngest player in the league that season.