Walker on the Kam River
Geoff Walker is returning to the Superior International Jr. Hockey League as the new head coach of the Kam River Fighting Walleye, Hockey News North has confirmed. The 34-year old Walker has walked away from his pro coaching gig with Vannas HC in Sweden to take over as the bench boss in Kam River.
Walker replaces Matt Valley as Kam River’s head coach. The first-place Fighting Walleye recently parted ways with Valley in what Kam River general manager Kevin McCallum described as a need for the team to have a full time head coach. The 32-year old Valley had been coaching Kam River while also being employed as a full-time school teacher in the Thunder Bay area.
As for Walker, it is a return to the SIJHL for him after coaching the Red Lake Miners to the 2021-2022 SIJHL championship. Ironically, Walker and the Miners defeated Valley and the Fighting Walleye to win the ’22 SIJHL playoff championship series in six games.
Prior to going to Red Lake and the SIJHL in 2018, Walker — who hails from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island — played 10 years of professional hockey in leagues in North America and the United Kingdom. He is also a former high scoring forward who starred in the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League for four years.
WHAT THEY SAID
“The Fighting Walleye organization is extremely excited to have a coach of Geoff’s calibre and experience leading our dressing room,” said Kam River president Derek Geddes. “After meeting with Geoff it was clear he was the person we wanted to lead our team. His values and vision match ours and we are looking forward to seeing where we can take this team together.”
“I am very excited about the next chapter of our organization’s history with the opportunity to bring in Geoff Walker,” said Kam River general manager Kevin McCallum. “We need a full time presence in that seat and the experience to take our program to the next level. I have had the opportunity to get to know Geoff and watch him at work with great success. I know we are getting a coach who demands a lot from his teams and gets results.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Walleye organization,” said Walker. “It’s the top club in the SIJHL, on and off the ice in my opinion, and something I have wanted to be a part of for a while now. Kevin and crew run a family oriented club and I’ve seen it first hand already when they helped guide me through the logistics of getting from Sweden to Thunder Bay. My two goals in coaching are to develop these young men both on and off the ice, and to win a championship.”
I think Geoff is the perfect man for the job. He will go back too back as SIJHL champion. I’ll even put a few wobbly pops on it.
Best of luck Mr.Walker.
Great coaching hire Kevin.McCallum
Fantastic article again by you Mr.Russon. Appreciate your articles