The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) has announced Brady Walker of the Beaver Valley Nitehawks as its Rookie of the Week for the period ending Nov. 16.
Walker’s scrappy, playmaking style helped the Nitehawks take all three games on their East Kootenay road trip. He scored three goals – including game-winners against Columbia Valley and Kimberley – and had three assists. He was +7 playing an average of 18:54 a game.
“He has been playing very well, very consistent,” says Nitehawks head coach-general manager Terry Jones. “He’s a great skater, who is strong on pucks, gets to the net. He is winning lots of puck battles and is a great complement to his linemates Brady Magarrell and Michiel Leenders.”
The Montrose, B.C. native credited his linemates for helping him produce.
“The players that I’m with right now, we’ve all got different playing styles that build off each other. Magarrell shoots the puck really well, and he’s obviously having a really good season. Being able to work with him and bounce the pucks off each other has been working really well,” says Walker, who likes moving pucks off the rush. “I’m one of the younger guys in the league, so having some guys around me that have been here and know this league pretty well definitely helps quite a bit.”
In 20 games, Walker has 10 goals, 11 assists for 21 points, ranking him eighth among all KIJHL rookies. His teammate, and current linemate Leenders, leads all KIJHL rookies with 29 points in 20 games.
