Although better known as a trailblazer in America in his chosen sport, Australia’s first ever National Hockey League player Nathan Walker makes sure he has time to keep up with the NRL.
Born in Wales before moving to Sydney as a child, Walker grew up supporting his favourite team Cronulla Sharks, even making his into their Academy system.
However, his love for ice hockey - a sport where he showed great promise from a young age - saw him make the move firstly to Europe, before making history in America.
Walker made his NHL debut with Washington Capitals in 2017, winning the Stanley Cup with the team in 2018, and he is now part of the St Louis Blues squad.
Described as a speedster, the left wing spoke to Cronulla’s 2016 premiership winning captain Paul Gallen about how he came to the game.
“Obviously finding ice and ice rinks back home is a bit tough, so at the age of 13, I moved over to the Czech Republic (now Czechia) and played there for a few years and then, kind of transitioned over here,” Walker said on the Channel Nine broadcast.
Despite being half a world away during the season and preoccupied by pucks, and the occasional, fully-sanctioned bare knuckle fist fight on the ice, Walker and his family like to get out to live NRL games whenever he can.
“I live in Woolooware, so we're really close to the stadium and whenever I get a chance to go with my wife and kids, we tend to pop our heads in for a match here and there," Walker said.
“Obviously the Sharks have always been the number one rugby team in our household.
“(When the Sharks won the grand final in 2026), I was in Hershey at the time trying to explain the game to all my buddies over here, how big of a deal it is that the Sharks won the final.
“(Was) trying to explain all that; it's the Stanley Cup of the rugby (world) it's the pinnacle of the sport and then they kind of grasp it.
“I'm showing them clips of you guys going at it head-to-head and they're obviously thinking that all the rugby players are absolute nail guns just running around with no gear on and everything like that.
“It's good, they're really intrigued over here about the sport and it's just nice to kind of bring that awareness to the hockey community as well.”
Awareness of ice hockey and the NHL is also growing in Australia, with Walker saying the physical nature of the sport naturally appeals to the Aussie sports fan.
"I think it's just the pace, the physicality of it, I think is what draws the Aussie nation into it," Walker said.
“I mean, you look at the popular sports back home, rugby (league), rugby union, it's that physicality."
*Channel Nine and NHL announced an exclusive free-to-air media partnership to bring live ice hockey to Australian fans for the 2025/2026 season.
