Wes Walz
Episode 384
15 JUNE 2026
He enjoyed a long playing career in the National Hockey League after being chosen by Boston in the third round, 57th overall, of the entry draft. In addition to the Bruins, he played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, and the Minnesota Wild, being the latter’s team captain and, at the time of his retirement, that franchise’s leader in games played. Along the way he also played four seasons in Switzerland. Shortly after his retirement he became an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He would go on to serve as head coach for three years at the high school that both a son and daughter of his played for. Present day he is a game analyst on Fan Duel Sports Network for Minnesota Wild games.
Notable guest quotes:
“Where we learned mostly about our Catholic faith was just from going to Mass every Sunday… we never missed a Mass on Sunday with my mother and father. That was something that was non-negotiable.”
“We went to Saint Mark’s parish… we learned about our faith. In school we went through all the sacraments as well too through Saint Mark’s in Calgary.”
“My favorite sport growing up was probably baseball and I played till I was probably about 16 years old… my first love was really baseball. I was probably a better baseball player than hockey player till I got to be about 15, 16 years old.”
“The fact that I was able to score my first ever NHL goal in my hometown in front of family and friends was something that I’ll never forget. And actually, ironically, 17 years later after my career was over, the last goal that I ever scored in the NHL was actually in Calgary as well at the other end of the rink. So, I scored my first goal in one end of the rink at the Calgary Saddledome and I scored my last goal 17 years later in the Calgary Saddledome.”
“I gotta be honest; I was 19 years old at the time, and I was 19 going on, like, 17 years old or 16 years old. I was so immature.”
“I was really a solid NHL player the last … seven/eight years of my career just simply because I was more mature and I was much wiser and I prayed a lot harder and my faith became a lot stronger too and I had the Holy Spirit behind me too, which played a big role as well.”
“I was asked when we got back into the twin cities to speak at the St. Paul Cathedral after I retired … for 15, 20 minutes to about 1,500 men… and I felt that it was something that I needed to do. I knew I needed to grow more in my faith.”
“There was more to my life, there was more to my wife’s life, than just hockey and things. I just, I needed more.”
“I needed to spend more time in Confession. I needed to spend more time at daily Mass. And receiving the Eucharist is something that I really believe has really helped me become stronger in my faith.”
“I have fallen in love with Adoration. I have an hour-long perpetual Adoration at St. Ambrose in Woodbury where at 12:30 on Monday I go in there and I sit with the Lord in Adoration and it’s just a quiet time.”
“My faith means more to me now and my family’s faith means more to me now than talking about hockey.”
“It warms my heart that people probably recognize me more now as maybe a man of faith than they did when I played.”
“Quietly, before the light comes on – and I did this as a player too – before the light comes on and we’re going on live television I quietly say a Hail Mary all the time.”
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