A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN NHL CALL-UP
Jan 11, 2024Over the past 10 seasons of Iowa Wild hockey, 74 skaters and goaltenders have gone on to play for the Minnesota Wild. 34 of those players made their NHL debuts with the big club.
Notice of an NHL recall can come at any moment in the AHL. While some players have the luxury of planning their trip to meet the team, many are quickly shuttled up I-35 to Minneapolis-St. Paul or flown to the team’s next destination.
Sammy Walker's second recall of the 2023-24 season fell into the category of one that had greater urgency than normal. As the Iowa Wild finished the team’s first practice of 2024, Minnesota faced a situation in which it needed a forward for that evening’s game against the Calgary Flames.
Typically, Iowa’s coaches or General Manager, Mike Murray, will hold a meeting or phone call to inform a player of their call-up. In Walker’s case, a video shoot with goaltender Jesper Wallstedt had his attention when Murray called the team’s Director of Broadcasting and Team Services, Ben Gislason.
After Gislason handed the phone to Walker, the tone of the day quickly shifted for the young prospect. Minnesota’s 7 p.m. puck drop immediately put Walker on the clock to get his gear, sprint home to pick up necessities, and hit the road.
Iowa’s head equipment manager, Richard Krouse, pulled Walker’s equipment aside and taped several sticks together for the journey north while Walker passed the news to teammates.
“I try not to stop on the way up unless I need to get gas,” said Walker. “I do keep some beef sticks from Costco in the car that I really like, or I’ll eat before I head up.”
With his gear in tow, Walker drove from the team’s practice rink at Rec Plex in West Des Moines to his apartment downtown to grab clothes and toiletries. With little time to spare, Walker quickly got on I-35 for the three-hour drive north to Minnesota.
“I usually listen to country,” said Walker. “I have a couple playlists which are either country or a super mixed bag of songs.”
After dropping his gear off at Xcel Energy Center, Walker made his way over to a hotel near the rink to try to get some rest and change into a suit for the evening game. Walker played 8:32 in the contest and appeared in another game two nights later before rejoining Iowa’s roster.
With two more NHL games under his belt, Walker says he enjoyed the experience and is looking forward to his next opportunity.
“That day was a little hectic,” said Walker. “But I’m always ready to stop for gas and head straight to the rink.”