Walker, Joe

Joe started skating on local ponds when he was four years old and played organized hockey at the age of nine at the Ocean Ice Palace in Brick, NJ. He played youth hockey there through the 60’s. In eighth grade, Joe, along with Jay Andrews and Larry Clayton were invited by high school coach Bob Auriemma to practice with the Brick High Varsity.

Joe played varsity hockey for Brick all four years of high school and was a starter at defense beginning in his sophomore year. As a junior, he was the first player from Brick to make the New Jersey Scholastic Hockey League All-Star Team, being named to the Second Team as a defenseman. Brick also won their second Division Championship that season.

Joe was one of the leading scorers during his final years at Brick. As a senior, Joe made the New Jersey Scholastic Hockey League All-Star Team First Team and received Brick’s Most Valuable Player award. He was voted one of the top ten high school hockey players of the decade for the 1950’s and 1960’s for the year 1969 by Mike G. Morreale in an article for the New Jersey Star Ledger dated 1/16/2000.

Joe played…