from Tom Gulitti of NHL.com,

When Nathan Walker was 6 years old, he laced up his in-line skates to play organized hockey for the first time in his hometown of Sydney, Australia.

His relentless, havoc-causing playing style quickly earned him the nickname Stormy.

"He used to skate the fastest from one end of the rink to the other, causing a storm," said Walker's mother, Ceri. "The name has stuck with him since then."

Still playing with the same seemingly endless energy, Walker is eager to make a name for himself with the Washington Capitals as the first Australian to play in the NHL. The 23-year-old left wing made the Capitals' opening night roster, but it's unclear if he'll play in their first game, at the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.

Walker, who was born in Cardiff, Wales, before moving with his family to Sydney when he was 2, understands that his first NHL game, whenever it happens, will be significant not only for him and his family but also for Australia.

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