Making mum proud! Nathan Walker makes fantastic debut as first Australian NHL player

Nathan Walker just became the first Australian NHL player and his debut couldn’t have gone much better, with his mum Ceri cheering him on proudly from the crowd.

Mum's pride: Nathan Walker's mum Ceri cheers him on as the Washington Capitals left wing looks on during the NHL hockey game. Source: Washington Capitals

Things couldn't have gone much better for Nathan Walker in his NHL debut, the first for an Australian, as he scored a goal and got plenty of time on the ice.

Walker has enjoyed a dream NHL debut, raised in Sydney, became his country's first NHL player when he turned out for Washington against Montreal on Saturday at the Capital One Arena.

And the occasion only got better for the 23-year-old left wing who deflected in a shot from Capitals teammate Devante Smith-Pelly in the 19th minute of the home side's 6-1 triumph over the Canadiens.

There was more than an element of luck to the second period goal - it was even originally awarded to Smith-Pelly - but he quickly made clear it had come off Walker.

In a touching gesture Smith-Pelly asked for the puck as a keepsake for his teammate, and when the scoring change was eventually announced, Walker's mother, Ceri, stood and wildly waved an Australian flag.

Another Capital, Alex Ovechkin - who had his own reasons to celebrate with a four-goal performance that saw him become the first player in 100 years to score back-to-back hat-tricks to open a season - skated over to the bench to give Walker a few taps on the helmet.

Washington Capitals left wing Nathan Walker (79), of Australia, skates during the third period of a NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens. Source: AAP

"At first I wasn't 100 per cent sure," Walker said of his goal, adding he felt in something of a daze in his first game.

"The first couple of shifts I didn't know what happened."

Walker enjoyed more than 11 minutes' ice time in a solid debut which had been more than a decade in the making.

Born in Wales, Walker and his family emigrated to Australia when he was two and he and brother Ryan quickly developed a love of the sport despite its limited following down under.

Walker's mum Ceri passionately cheers on her son from the stands. Source: Washington Capitals

Playing for the Sydney Ice Dogs in the semi-professional Australian Ice Hockey League, Walker excelled and as a 13-year-old was matching it with players as old as 20.

In both under-14 and 16 competitions he became the record goal-scorer for the league.

Moving to the Czech Republic in 2007 to further his career, six years later he signed for the Youngstown Phantoms in the United States Hockey League, the NHL's feeder competition.

An NHL debut has been spoken of ever since, but mixed form, injury and hot competition had got in the way until his breakthrough appearance on Saturday.