The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Walker Wintoneak has the potential to do more than talk the talk in hockey. He hopes to walk the walk and become a Saskatoon Blade this fall after playing in his first Junior A season with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Swan Valley Stampeders. The 6-2, 190 pound right winger scored 12 goals, 16 assists for 28 points in 59 games. He considers himself an offensive player, but wants to improve defensively and develop into a two-way threat. Walker believes the experience playing in Swan Valley will help him make that jump. "It would be pretty good to play in Saskatoon. Going from Flin Flon to Swan Valley to Saskatoon would be a big jump for me," he explained. "I just have to be prepared." "I wasn't even expected to be protected by them (Blades)," he said. "I was excited because I didn't think I would make that." Not only does Walker believe he can play at the major junior level, but so does Stampeder general manager Leonard Strandberg. What they both agree on is that Walker must work on his quickness. "He must have that explosiveness," Strandberg said. "Every level is quicker." Walker's off-season plans include attending skating clinics and working out using programs the Stampeders and Blades have given him. "I just try to work on everything," he said. "I can't just focus on one thing." To Strandberg, Walker has turned out to be a good solid player for the Stampeders. "He's a very good offensive player and has a good feel for it (the game)," Strandberg said. "He's a big kid who makes room for himself. He learned to become a well-rounded player." When it comes to young players having a role on the team, Strandberg emphasized the importance of contributing. If that doesn't happen, they're returned to midget. "He's just like a sponge," explained Strandberg. "He learns quickly and wants to be better. He wants to play hockey. I love his enthusiasm and willingness to learn. We wanted to provide him with the best opportunity to be a good hockey player. He didn't let us down." When asked about next season, the Stampeders GM is uncertain. "We don't expect anything from him next season," Strandberg added. "He might play in the Western League. We'd love to have him back." The good news for Strandberg is if Walker doesn't make the cut in Saskatoon this coming fall, he's happy where he is. "I thought I did pretty good," Walker added. "We weren't a very deep team, but we ended well." In the final dozen games of the season, the Stampeders went 11-1. It was a nice reversal after winning their first game of the season against OCN then going on a long losing streak. The season ended in the first round of the playoffs to the OCN Blizzard in five games. As much as Walker liked playing with the Stampeders, he enjoys the skill and positioning in the Western League. "All the best players play in that league," he said. What he liked about playing with the Stampeders was that he played in an actual season and met new people. The hardest part about playing in Swan Valley was being away from family and friends, but he was able to deal with that. His father, Larry, coached the Dryden Ice Dogs of the Superior International Junior Hockey League and watched Walker play whenever they were in Winnipeg. "I want to go as far as I can," he said, as he has thoughts of playing in the NHL. For Walker, it's all about playing a game he loves. Oh, and he likes to win too. "You don't play the game to lose," he said.
