Ryan Watson (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Ryan Watson is a Canadian
professional ice hockey
player, currently playing for the Cortina SG in Italy's Serie A.
at junior level in the WHL
. Watson did not start particularly well though, and managed just one point in 22 games in his first season.
For the 2000/01 season, Watson would play at the lower junior level of the AJHL
for the Drayton Valley Thunder
. His performances were much improved, and a ratio of a point per game was established during a season in which Watson played almost 60 times.
Watson would begin his senior career with the Oklahoma City Blazers
of the CHL
. He would settle well and established himself as an important first team player, turning out in 118 games in the two seasons, and totalling 74 points in that time. His performances brought him to the attention of the Victoria Salmon Kings
, who were playing at the higher ECHL
standard. The Salmon Kings signed Watson for the 2004/05 season. Watson was not a first team regular though, but still managed 33 games and 19 points.
Despite his positive points return, he was not re-signed by the Salmon Kings and so returned to the CHL
with the then named Memphis Riverkings. Watson again proved his quality at this level, snatching 59 points in 64 games. In the summer of 2006, Watson moved to Europe
and was signed by the Manchester Phoenix
of the EIHL, the highest tier of club hockey in Britain. Watson played in only 10 games for the Phoenix before returning to North America though.
On his return he would re-sign for one of his old teams, the Oklahoma City Blazers
. Watson continued to score points regularly for the Blazers throughout both the regular and post-season periods, managing almost a point per game ratio. This productivity meant that the Blazers re-signed Watson for the 2007/08 season. It would again be a positive season for Watson, who would go on to score 55 points in 63 games. Despite this, the Blazers would fail to make the post-season, and so a major squad re-building process was begun and Watson was one of the players released.
He would return to Europe and Italy
to sign for Cortina SG of the Serie A. Despite the language barrier, Watson has so far settled well and begun once again to clock up regular goals and assists.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player, currently playing for the Cortina SG in Italy's Serie A.
Playing career
Watson began his career in 1998 playing for his local team, the Lethbridge HurricanesLethbridge Hurricanes
The Lethbridge Hurricanes are a junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Conference of the Western Hockey League in Lethbridge, Alberta. They play their home games at the ENMAX Centre.-History:...
at junior level in the WHL
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
. Watson did not start particularly well though, and managed just one point in 22 games in his first season.
For the 2000/01 season, Watson would play at the lower junior level of the AJHL
Alberta Junior Hockey League
The Alberta Junior Hockey League is an Alberta-based Junior A hockey league that belongs to the Canadian Junior Hockey League . It was formed as a five-team league in 1964. There are currently 16 teams in the league. The regular season league champions receive the Dave Duchak Trophy...
for the Drayton Valley Thunder
Drayton Valley Thunder
The Drayton Valley Thunder is an ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. They play in Drayton Valley, Alberta, Canada at the Drayton Valley Omni-Plex, capacity 1450....
. His performances were much improved, and a ratio of a point per game was established during a season in which Watson played almost 60 times.
Watson would begin his senior career with the Oklahoma City Blazers
Oklahoma City Blazers
The Oklahoma City Blazers were a professional ice hockey team that played in the Northwest Division of the Central Hockey League. The Blazers played at the Ford Center, located in downtown Oklahoma City. Their colors were burgundy, gold and white...
of the CHL
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
. He would settle well and established himself as an important first team player, turning out in 118 games in the two seasons, and totalling 74 points in that time. His performances brought him to the attention of the Victoria Salmon Kings
Victoria Salmon Kings
The Victoria Salmon Kings were a professional ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia. They were members of the Mountain Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL, debuting in the 2004–05 ECHL season and folding after the 2010–11 ECHL season as the Chilliwack Bruins WHL franchise...
, who were playing at the higher ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
standard. The Salmon Kings signed Watson for the 2004/05 season. Watson was not a first team regular though, but still managed 33 games and 19 points.
Despite his positive points return, he was not re-signed by the Salmon Kings and so returned to the CHL
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
with the then named Memphis Riverkings. Watson again proved his quality at this level, snatching 59 points in 64 games. In the summer of 2006, Watson moved to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and was signed by the Manchester Phoenix
Manchester Phoenix
Manchester Phoenix are a professional ice hockey team from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. The club was formed in 2003 as a result of the efforts of supporters group Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey to bring top-level ice hockey back to Manchester after Manchester Storm folded in...
of the EIHL, the highest tier of club hockey in Britain. Watson played in only 10 games for the Phoenix before returning to North America though.
On his return he would re-sign for one of his old teams, the Oklahoma City Blazers
Oklahoma City Blazers
The Oklahoma City Blazers were a professional ice hockey team that played in the Northwest Division of the Central Hockey League. The Blazers played at the Ford Center, located in downtown Oklahoma City. Their colors were burgundy, gold and white...
. Watson continued to score points regularly for the Blazers throughout both the regular and post-season periods, managing almost a point per game ratio. This productivity meant that the Blazers re-signed Watson for the 2007/08 season. It would again be a positive season for Watson, who would go on to score 55 points in 63 games. Despite this, the Blazers would fail to make the post-season, and so a major squad re-building process was begun and Watson was one of the players released.
He would return to Europe and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to sign for Cortina SG of the Serie A. Despite the language barrier, Watson has so far settled well and begun once again to clock up regular goals and assists.
External links
- Ryan Watson Personal Profile, Manchester Phoenix Official Website.