This week Daniel Walcott prepared the ice cream for the training camp to start his 11th season as a professional.
For the first time in a decade, however, he is not draped in a Syracuse Crunch sweater.
“It was actually pretty nice,” said Walcott. “I feel like I’m a rookie again.”
The 31-year-old attacker was taken by the New York Rangers in the fifth round of 2014 and appeared in one match for the Hartford Wolf Pack in 2014-15 at the end of his junior career. Since then, Walcott has registered 494 AHL games – all as a member of the Crunch.
A favorite with fans who would wear a letter as an alternative captain for eight consecutive campaigns in Syracuse, Walcott entered unknown terrain this summer when he became a free agent.
With his eyes on a new destination, Walcott turned to a connection that he made during the 2020-21 season-season-in which the checkers finished for playing and the crunch players and employees of both the Panthers and lightning.
“The year in which Florida and Tampa sent their boys to Syracuse, I got a bit of an idea of what this organization was,” he said. “They were my first phone call when I was a free agent because I wanted to be here.”
After having spent time as an invitation in the training camp of the Panthers, Walcott has joined the checkers as a professional try -out (PTO) and wants to match the environmental coach Geordie Kinnear in his team.
“I am proud of my game to work hard and play in the right way,” said Walcott. “I think this organization – especially here in Charlotte – is what they preach. Work hard on the details and give it everything.”
In terms of pedigree, Walcott built up a well-rounded CV during his time in the AHL-with 147 points (56g, 91a) and 568 criminal minutes in 495 games and the 2023-24 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as Man of the Year in the community.
“My positive attitude on and next to the ice,” said Walcott about what he can bring to the table. “Work hard – go down, take the work. And I like to beat, so throw my body around a bit. That’s a kind of what they expect from me, just be myself and play hard.”
After witnessing what the Panthers and Checkers have been able to build from afar, Walcott’s hope is to eliminate a place for himself in the team’s ride for a cup.
“Win culture,” said Walcott. “That is what I want to be part of here. I have not yet won a championship in my career – I have been close. Hopefully I can come here, do what I do, earn a contract and help win this team.”
As the camp continues to roll and the battle for schedules intensifies, the veteran embraces this new challenge for a decade in his career.
“It was really a relief,” said Walcott. “I love Syracuse, but it’s something new. I can start all over again. It’s fun. My family loves this. So far, so good.”
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