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Ben Walter was prepared and excited about the 2007-08 hockey season and with good reason. He was the leading scorer for the Providence Bruins, the Boston Bruins AHL affiliate, with 67 points and was named the team’s most valuable player by his teammates. He was in shape and ready to make a strong run at a roster spot in Boston until two days before camps began. Walter had received word that he was traded to the New York Islanders and would join the team at their camp in Moncton, NB.

Garth Snow and his staff carried Walter throughout the final days of camp until he was finally sent back to the Sound Tigers to begin the AHL season. Walter was immediately paired with his former teammate with Providence, Sean Bentivoglio on the team’s top unit. Tim Jackman flanked the two on the other wing. The pairing produced from the start of opening night as they combined for four points in the Sound Tigers’ 3-2 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Walter’s first experience with the Islanders was on November 3rd when the Islanders took on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Al Arbour Night. The Islanders honored their legendary head coach, naming him the honorary coach for the night to allow him to coach in his 1,500th game. Walter wound up playing eight games for the Islanders throughout the season and scored his first NHL goal in an 8-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tell me about your un-expected change in the off-season as you were preparing for the Boston Bruins’ Training Camp last season.

It was a different situation for sure. I was in Boston ready to start camp and it was a shock to hear I was traded. Coming into the Islanders’ Training Camp, they made me feel welcome by setting things up for me. I got there a day before and got all of my testing and things done. It was a whirlwind for a bit but I was glad it happened. I was there in Boston for a few days skating with many of the guys who were going to the Bruins’ camp and on my way home, I got a call from Bruins’ General Manager Peter Chiarelli and he told me that Garth Snow would be calling with the news and ever since it has definitely worked.

Your career high for points in a season is 67 with the Providence Bruins last season. You just missed passing that number last year with the Sound Tigers with 66 points. How did you make the adjustment so smoothly?

You just gain confidence after each year you play and I felt I was going to have a good year coming in. Right from the day I found out I was joining the Islanders’ organization and all throughout camp, my experience was great. I learned what the coaching staffs on both level expected of me. Cappy (Jack Capuano) and the whole coaching staff in Bridgeport were really helpful in giving me an opportunity to be a go to guy and excel. I had a couple of great line-mates that helped my confidence as well.

Tell us about your first game with the Islanders last season. Take us through the whole day and what it was like being a part of the Al Arbour 1,500 game?

It was cool. The Sound Tigers were playing in Binghamton and we had just lost the game and then Cappy came in and told me I was going up. I packed my gear and Kerry Gwydir (Islanders’ Assistant GM) and Eric Cairns (Scout) drove me back to Long Island that night. I skated in the pre-game skate the next morning and then was able to get back in the locker-room and talk with some of the guys. Walking into the room was an easy adjustment because we had just gotten out of camp about a month before. I was nervous when he came around to game-time because I wanted to make a good first impression. On top of it being my first game with the Islanders, I was going to be a part of Al Arbour Night and it was really special. I had the chance to meet Mr. Arbour and be a part of pre-game ceremony. Being able to experience it from the players’ prospective was exciting.

Tell us about your first NHL goal against Tampa Bay.

It was a long day. Josef Vasicek was injured in the Islanders’ pre-game skate and I was with the Sound Tigers at practice at The Rinks at Shelton. John Sullo (Athletic Trainer) came running onto the ice to tell me to get off and pack my gear. They couldn’t get a flight into Tampa Bay until late and by the time the flight landed it was about 6 p.m. and the game started at 7 p.m. I took a cab to the rink and got there when the teams were finishing warm-up. We were losing and Coach Nolan put some of younger guys on a power-play. I was with Tamby and Comeau and won face-off and went to the net. I was able to tip the puck and I think it hit off of one of their guys before it eventually went in but it was nice to get my first NHL goal. It was definitely an exciting day that I’ll remember for sure.

You centered several different players last season but each time your line with Bentivoglio and Jackman was called you all seemed to click. Why was that?

We were all different players but complimented each other very well. Jacks (Tim Jackman) is a big guy and gets in the offensive zone on the fore-check. When he beats his man into the zone he is able to deliver hits and create turnovers and open up room. Benti (Sean Bentivoglio) is shifty and sees the ice really well. We knew where each other were most of the time we were on the ice. I think I compliment them well because I like to hang onto the puck, allowing them to get open to spots I can feed them. We all are different players but complimented each other really well.

What have you been doing this off-season in preparation for the upcoming season?

I got home a little over a month ago and took a few weeks off to relax and heal a few bumps and bruises. Now I’m back in the groove and stepping up the preparation for camp. Recently I’ve been working out and will probably get back on the ice in July. Going to keep working hard now and be ready for camp. Physically it is a long season where we’re on the ice about six days a week. Mentally and physically it is good to be able to focus on other things. Off-ice training is a big part of things and its important to work on that in the summer. Mentally it is good to come in fresh and ready for camp in t