Matt Walker is a former professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman. He was born on April 7, 1980, in Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada. Walker began his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Seattle Thunderbirds in 1997. He played for the Thunderbirds for four seasons, from 1997 to 2001, and was known for his physical play and defensive skills.
In 2001, Walker signed with the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He spent most of his first two seasons with the Blues' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Worcester IceCats. However, he did make his NHL debut with the Blues during the 2001-02 season, playing in two games.
Walker became a regular in the Blues' lineup during the 2003-04 season, playing in 67 games and recording 10 points (two goals, eight assists) and 102 penalty minutes. He continued to play for the Blues for the next two seasons, but was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007.
With the Blackhawks, Walker played in 65 games during the 2007-08 season, recording 10 points (two goals, eight assists) and 79 penalty minutes. He played in 66 games the following season, but his production dropped off, as he recorded just four points (one goal, three assists) and 58 penalty minutes.
In 2009, Walker was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he played in 66 games during the 2009-10 season, recording six points (one goal, five assists) and 63 penalty minutes. He was then traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010, where he played in just 10 games before suffering a season-ending injury.
Walker attempted to make a comeback with the Flyers during the 2011-12 season, but was ultimately unable to do so due to lingering injury issues. He retired from professional hockey in 2012, ending a career that spanned over a decade.
Throughout his career, Walker was known for his physical play and defensive skills. He was a hard-hitting defenseman who was not afraid to drop the gloves and defend his teammates. While he was not known for his offensive production, he was a reliable player who could be counted on to play a solid defensive game.
Overall, Matt Walker had a successful career in professional hockey, playing for four different NHL teams and earning a reputation as a tough, physical defenseman. While injuries ultimately cut his career short, he will be remembered as a player who gave his all on the ice and was always willing to do whatever it took to help his team win.
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