Tyler Walker Junior Review

[Advantage 2,891]

JUNIOR REVIEW - TYLER WALKER

 

In 2013, a veteran General Manager referred to his team’s hard work ethic but lack of success in regards to making the NHL postseason, when he said: “Sometimes you do the hard work and set the table, and somebody else eats the meal.”  This was Brian Burke talking about his Toronto Maple Leafs team that missed the playoffs for a seventh year in a row.  

 

Meanwhile in Kamloops, British Columbia, a young Tyler Walker was watching sportscenter when he heard the quote from the always divisive American GM.  “I just remember thinking that it was so true and that I had to continue to work as hard as I could because nothing is certain in professional sports.”  These were words to live by for the young eleven year old as he was coming up the ranks, and he kept them in mind as he went through his entire time in the Western Hockey League.

 

In his rookie season, Walker joined the Kamloops Blazers as an early second round pick for the struggling franchise.  He lined up alongside Sean Strange as a member of their second pairing; Walker being the offensive component to the balanced pairing.  He recorded a solid eleven goals and twenty-four assists for thirty-five points in his rookie campaign. The Blazers narrowly missed the playoffs but had reason to look up with Walker and Connor Zary teaming up as strong performing sixteen year old’s.

 

In his second season, Montana Onyebuchi became a mainstay on the Blazers top pairing with Tyler Walker, as they became one of the more successful duos in the league.  Onyebuchi was a physical force and recorded a career-high twenty points, while Walker took over offensively finishing third on the team in scoring with fifteen goals and forty-nine assists, ending up just under a point per game.  The Blazers made the playoffs but fell in six games with Walker recording six points to lead the way and finishing as a +2.

 

Finally, in his third season, Tyler Walker took over alongside Connor Zary and Zane Franklin.  The hometown boy would record twenty-four goals and seventy-two assists and a team-best ninety-six points with the Blazers being one of the best performing teams in the entire Canadian Hockey League.  Sadly for the Blazers, the coronavirus would hit at the worst possible time for the team and their season would end without true conclusion, and therefore so would Walker’s time with Kamloops.

 

The young defender has already announced his intention to join the Victory Hockey League Minors and declare for the upcoming Dispersal Draft, as is his right as a draft eligible player.  He had considered the National Hockey League, but felt that the ability to currently play as a better way to utilize his development and given the league’s quality becoming quite comparable, it was not a difficult choice for the defender.  Time will tell if he can be the offensive force he was in the minors, but the future seems bright for the Kamloops native.

 

WHL Regular Season

2017-2018:   65 GP - 11 G - 24 A - 35 P - +4

2018-2019:   68 GP - 15 G - 49 A - 64 P - +8

2019-2020:   63 GP - 24 G - 72 A - 96 P - +29

 

WHL Playoffs

2017-2018:   Did Not Qualify

2018-2019:   6 GP - 1 G - 5 A - 6 P - +2

2019-2020:   Playoffs Cancelled

 

International

2017-2018:   6 GP - 0 G - 3 A - 3 P - +2 (U-17 Canada)

2018-2019:   5 GP - 2 G - 4 A - 6 P - +5 (U-18 Canada)

2019-2020:   7 GP - 2 G - 6 A - 8 P - +8 (U-20 Canada)