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CdnSailor
11-21-2011, 11:06 PM
November 21, 2011

ROYALS SIGN MINNESOTA HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT BEN WALKER

Victoria adds 18-year-old forward to the fold.


For Immediate Release

Monday, November 21st, 2011

Victoria, BC – The Victoria Royals are pleased to announce that 1993-born forward Ben Walker has signed a WHL Standard Player’s Agreement with the club.

The Edina, MN native arrives in Victoria after playing two seasons of Minnesota Boys High School hockey with the Edina High School Hornets. Last season he captained the Hornets squad in his junior year. He contributed 32 points (18G+14A) in 24 games to go along with 18 minutes in penalties. His sophomore season in 2010 saw Walker notch 14 points (6g-8a) and 20 minutes in penalties in 25 games. That season the Hornets won the Class 2A state title and Walker chipped in four assists in six games.

“We are extremely happy that Ben has chosen to move to the Victoria Royals and the Western Hockey League,” General Manager and Head Coach Marc Habscheid said. “He will bring speed, scoring and tenacity to our roster. We also expect him to add to the leadership and character of our squad.”

The 5’11, 175 lbs forward was drafted in the 6th round, 81st overall by the Muskegeon Lumberjacks in the 2011 USHL Entry Draft. This past fall, Walker suited up with Team Southwest of the Minnesota Elite League, where he registered 27 points (14G+13A) in 24 games

The Victoria Royals face a pair of B.C. Division opponents this weekend. Friday sees the Royals visit the Kamloops Blazers, with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m. Victoria then takes on the Kelowna Rockets the following night, with the action set to start at 7:05 p.m. The Royals’ next home game is Tuesday, November 29th when the Kamloops Blazers visit the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for a 7:05 p.m. start. For further details or to purchase your tickets today, visit the Victoria Royals Ticket Office, www.victoriaroyals.com, or call 250-220-7889.

pontcanna
11-22-2011, 12:29 AM
Royals newcomer gives offence a boost

By Cleve Dheensaw, timescolonist.com November 21, 2011 10:20 PM

Forwards Ben Walker and Logan Nelson have been going at each other on the ice sheets of suburban Minneapolis — Walker with Edina rep teams and Nelson with those from nearby Rogers — since they were six years old.

So when those recruiting phone calls went out recently to Walker from the Victoria Royals, who better to make one than Nelson?

The upshot is that Walker, who has decided to forgo his senior year of high school hockey and a future in the U.S. collegiate NCAA, was introduced Monday as the newest Royals player.

Walker and Nelson finally become teammates in the Western Hockey League in what for them must seem a far-flung western corner of a foreign land. If Walker works out anywhere near as well as fellow 18-year-old Minnesotan Nelson — who has 10 goals and 23 points in 24 games this season — the Royals will have themselves a find.

Nelson already thinks they do.

“He’s a gritty, down low guy who can bury the puck when need be,” said Nelson.

“We’re excited and lucky to have him. It’s good to have him on the team.”

Asked if he remembers ever levelling Walker in a game, the physical six-foot-one Nelson quipped: “He’s hard to get in your sights.”

Walker was absorbing his first day in a new setting.

“It’s a bit of a shock and I’m still adjusting,” said Nelson.

“I decided on a change of venue to challenge myself against little bit stronger players.”

Coming to Canada, Walker admitted he was “expecting a little snow.”

But he will find these particular Canadian winters a lot milder than those of his home state.

Despite the geographic vagaries, the phone call from his old opponent Nelson gave him a level of comfort that this was a good place to play and the right decision to make for his hockey future.

So, first impressions after the first practice Monday?

“The size . . . the players are bigger,” said the five-foot-10, 175-pound Walker, who had 18 goals and 32 points in 24 games as team captain in his Grade 11 season with the Edina High Hornets.

Walker listed Martin St. Louis as the pro player he most patterns himself after because of body size.

“I was always the smaller guy growing up. I didn’t reach five feet until the ninth grade.”

But good things can come is small jerseys.

“He’s an energetic, skill guy who has been a leader wherever he played,” said Royals GM and head coach Marc Habscheid.

“He’s quick and knows how to skate.”

Walker gets his first opportunity to do that in a game situation for the Royals (11-12-1) on the road when they play Friday in Kamloops against the Blazers (14-6-1) and Saturday in Kelowna against the Rockets (8-11-3).