Kurt Walker

Kurt Walker (June 10, 1954 – August 17, 2018) was an American professional ice hockey player who played 71 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs between 1976 and 1978.

Career Walker started his professional career with the Saginaw Gears, of the International Hockey League, in the 1974–75 IHL season.

Walker played 71 NHL games, over parts of the 1975–76 through 1977–78 NHL seasons, all with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored his first career NHL goal against the Vancouver Canucks on January 21, 1977. Walker scored 9 points in the NHL and accrued 152 penalty minutes.

He closed out his professional career with the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League in the 1979–80 AHL season.

Post–playing career Playing as an enforcer throughout his hockey career, Walker required 17 surgeries to repair injuries. He criticized the NHL Alumni organization, which he claimed did not support retired players enough financially. As a result, he created an organization called Dignity after Hockey to raise awareness and funds to provide health care to retired players. In 2017, he added his name to a class-action lawsuit against the NHL alleging neglect of support for players suffering injuries and financial strain once retired.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1971–72 Hingham High School HS-MA — — — — — — — — — — 1972–73 Northeastern University ECAC — — — — — — — — — — 1973–74 Sherbrooke Castors QMJHL 36 2 5 7 142 — — — — — 1974–75 Saginaw Gears IHL 67 1 3 4 168 16 0 0 0 0 1975–76 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 5 0 0 0 49 6 0 0 0 24 1975–76 Oklahoma City Blazers CHL 59 4 5 9 184 — — — — — 1976–77 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 26 2 3 5 34 — — — — — 1976–77 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 6 3 0 3 50 — — — — — 1977–78 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 40 2 2 4 69 10 0 0 0 10 1977–78 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 20 3 3 6 53 2 1 0 1 2 1978–79 Springfield Indians AHL 11 0 1 1 22 — — — — — 1978–79 Tulsa Oilers CHL 54 17 19 36 81 — — — — — 1979–80 Binghamton Dusters AHL 6 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 1979–80 Syracuse Firebirds AHL 11 1 4 5 18 — — — — — NHL totals 71 4 5 9 152 16 0 0 0 34