Griffin Grad Leads WMU Hockey to Postseason

Garrett Walker's senior season as captain propels Western Michigan to GLCHL playoff run.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 4:20pm

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Garrett Walker, a graduate of Griffin High School, recently completed his senior ice hockey season as captain of the Western Michigan University Stallions. After transferring from Robert Morris University, Walker made an immediate impact on the WMU program, leading the team in scoring and helping elevate the team's culture and performance. The Stallions had a successful playoff run in the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (GLCHL) before falling in the championship game.

Why it matters

Walker's leadership and on-ice production as captain of the WMU hockey team showcases the talent and impact that can come from local high school athletes. His journey from Griffin High to Robert Morris to Western Michigan demonstrates how student-athletes can develop and find success at the collegiate level, especially in a sport like hockey where Western New York has a rich history of producing top talent.

The details

In his senior season, Walker finished as one of the Stallions' top scorers and was also recognized as one of the top-40 scorers in the GLCHL. Western Michigan finished third in the GLCHL regular season but made a strong playoff run, upsetting the second-seeded University of Toledo before falling to top-seeded Northwood University in the championship game. Walker's production increased down the stretch, with two goals and seven assists in the team's final nine games.

  • Walker completed his senior season at Western Michigan University in the 2025-26 academic year.
  • The Stallions' playoff run in the GLCHL took place in the spring of 2026.

The players

Garrett Walker

A senior captain of the Western Michigan University hockey team and a graduate of Griffin High School, where he was a standout forward and helped cultivate a winning culture for the ELPS (Eden-Lake Shore-Pioneer-Springville) high school hockey program.

Mike Mecca

Garrett Walker's high school hockey coach at ELPS, who has mentored hundreds of players over more than two decades with the program and considers Walker to be one of the top-10 forwards he has coached.

Western Michigan University Stallions

The Division 1 ice hockey team of Western Michigan University that competes in the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (GLCHL), one of 10 ACHA D1 leagues that compete for the ACHA D1 national championship.

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What they’re saying

“After transferring from Robert Morris University, Garrett Walker made an immediate impact on the Western Michigan Stallions program. As team captain, he leads by example every day, bringing a strong work ethic, accountability and consistency on the ice while serving as a trusted, respected voice in the locker room. In a short time, Garrett has helped elevate the culture of the Stallions and set the standard for what it means to wear the jersey.”

— WMU Stallions, Social Media Post

“Garrett was absolutely a big part of cultivating a winning culture with ELPS. He was a large part of teams that started to have playoff success. He helped to anchor our forward group that, at the time, was pretty much two lines deep.”

— Mike Mecca, High School Hockey Coach

“Garrett has been an integral part of our team's (ELPS) success. His play was tenacious and skillful, and his leadership ability was outstanding. He always led by example on the ice with consistent excellent play and was always working to improve himself and the team. In the locker room, Garrett was always a positive team-first player who encouraged everyone to compete at their best. It's not a surprise to me that he has taken his skills and leadership ability to the next level. Great kid and awesome family.”

— Mike Mecca, High School Hockey Coach

What’s next

Garrett Walker will graduate from Western Michigan University with a degree in digital media and journalism. He hopes to pursue a career in sports media or coaching after his collegiate playing career ends.

The takeaway

Garrett Walker's success as a leader and top performer for the Western Michigan University hockey team showcases the talent and impact that can come from local high school athletes. His journey demonstrates how student-athletes can develop and find success at the collegiate level, especially in a sport like hockey where Western New York has a rich history of producing top talent.