WRAL Sports Fan

Hurricanes

Canes rally to support player's wife after cancer diagnosis

May 16, 2009

Julie Walker, the wife of Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker, has been diagnosed with cervical cancer, the team announced Saturday. She is expected to make a full recovery.

Scott Walker addressed the issue Saturday saying, “The great thing about being a hockey player is the support you get from your teammates and the organization.

“She's been strong and we're going to get this fixed and she'll be fine,” he said.

“I'm just happy for the support from all of my teammates and the organization and the prayers that I've had from a lot of people.”

Walker saw much of the spotlight during the Canes Eastern Conference semifinal series against Boston. He landed a solid punch on Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward – and earned a fine – in the waning minutes of Game 5.

It was hard to see Walker pilloried by the Boston press after that punch, head coach Paul Maurice said.

“In your locker room, you know this guy is exhibiting the character, fortitude and strength that we haven't seen in so long. That makes it tough because you want to go out there and say ‘you don't know what you're talking about,’” Maurice said.

In Game 7, Walker sealed the Carolina victory with an overtime goal, pushing his team into the Eastern Conference Finals.

Teammate Eric Cole said Saturday, “The excitement of beating Boston was one thing, but the excitement for Scott, I think, was something that I felt more so. I don't think you could have picked a better guy on our team to score that goal.”

The support of the team was echoed by Maurice. “We're a family, so you deal with it as you would any member of your family,” he said.

“We're a tight-knit group in here and you have to pick each other up. Scott is a great teammate and a great friend and a guy you want to pull for every time he's out there,” Eric Staal said.

“He had a rough week and we'll hope for positive results as we move forward. It was good to be there to support him.”

The Hurricanes begin their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals series against the fourth-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday in Pittsburgh.