‘He’s a warrior’: Scott Walker is back on the ice with the Canucks, but is being cautious before returning behind the bench

If you’ve watched a Canucks game over the past month or so, you may have noticed — or heard from us — that assistant coach Scott Walker hasn’t been in his usual spot behind the Canucks’ bench.

As we told you a few weeks ago, during the Canucks’ January 21st game against the Florida Panthers, Walker took a puck to the head at a high velocity from the stick of Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau while standing on the Canucks’ bench and has been dealing with all sorts of trouble since.

“He took that puck in the head, and I miss him terribly, quite frankly,” said head coach Bruce Boudreau last week. “We talk every day and he’s at home in Guelph right now and he’s seeing a specialist again today.”

Boudreau added that Walker was dealing with vertigo and was getting lightheaded while resting at his home in Guelph.

Yesterday at practice, Walker was back on the ice, which was a welcome sight for everyone around the rink.

“You feel so bad for him,” defenceman Luke Schenn told CanucksArmy. “I mean, obviously, he was a warrior on the ice when he played. I played against him back earlier on in my career, and I just remember what a player he was and coming here he’s just like an even better guy. Just the best assistant coach, easy guy to talk to and joke around with the guys. Kind of like one of those guys where he probably feels like a teammate almost, where you just can relate to him in so many ways.”

“The fact of what he’s gone through and is still trying to come back and help us out I mean, obviously, just an unbelievable guy to be around. It’s great seeing him around and we hope he just continues to feel better,” said Schenn.

“We’re just taking it a day at a time and when he feels he’s ready, he’ll be back,” added coach Boudreau. “But I mean listen, it’s a far step from a week ago when he was barely sitting up. I told him, let’s just take this a little bit slower because I want you here for a long time, not for a short time.”