Edinburgh Capitals have confirmed the signing of defenceman Dean Walker for the new SNL season, set to face off in September.
The 25 year old blueliner makes a welcomed return to Murrayfield Ice Arena, the place he has called home since starting his hockey career as a junior. Dean made his way through the Murrayfield Junior system before taking his first steps in SNL hockey in the 2013-14 season with the Capitals.
During the 2013-14 season, Dean was part of the Capitals’ SNL League title win which is something he will be hoping to replicate this coming campaign. He iced with the Caps up until the end of the 2017-18 season before signing with Murrayfield Racers.
The next two seasons included more silverware with another SNL title and NIHL 1 Cup along with other trophies. The pandemic, unfortunately, halted hockey here in Edinburgh and Dean is now eager to get back out on the ice and start winning once again with the Capitals. Walker exclaimed, “I’m happy to have signed with the Caps for the 2022-23 season. To be back with the team that started everything for me, I couldn’t say no. This season we aren’t just going to be here to make up numbers, we are going to be pushing for silverware and give the fans a well overdue celebration. Being part of the rebuild is an exciting thought, and I’m personally looking forward to getting going again. Having a year out wasn’t expected but at least I still got to play hockey with the Edinburgh Knights. I am looking forward to seeing some old and new faces back this season and I cannot wait to get going. Hopefully, see all the fans back at the old barn in October.”
Coach Steven Lynch had this to say on the signing of the Scottish U19 internationalist, “Dean is another product of MJIHC who I am delighted to have on board for the coming season. The conversation I had with him was similar to the one with Ross Borwick, where it didn’t take very long for him to commit to the team. Like so many others, the frustration of seeing his home rink closed for such a long time was obvious here and travelling around the country playing rec hockey to fill the void clearly wasn’t for him. Dean will have a valuable part to play during the course of the season and he can’t wait to get back on the ice at Murrayfield again playing competitive hockey.”
More signing news will follow in the coming days.
Photo: Ian Coyle
