Welcome to the first installment of "Where are they now?" It's not very often that a professional athlete can spend his entire career with one team. In today's column we will look a player who spent his entire ten year playing career with our beloved Flyers. We are talking about the one and only Jimmy Watson.
Watson was the 39th overall pick in the 1972 NHL draft. He would play in four games in the 1972-1973 season recording one assist. The following season saw him make the roster and the rest, as they say, is history.
During his playing career he scored 38 regular season goals and 186 points in 613 games. The most impressive stat however is his career +295 rating. He would add an additional 11 playoff goals and 37 playoff points. At the end of the 1981-1982 season, Watson would hang up his skates for good in the NHL.
Since retiring, he has stayed local to the Philadelphia area. He currently is the Director of Ice Works Youth Hockey program located at Ice Works Ice Arena in Aston, Pa. He coaches the Delco Phantoms Midget 18-U AA team. He also runs the Jimmy Watson Hockey Academy and Jimmy Watson Hockey Camps, both located at Ice Works.
Career Highlights:
Two time Barry Ashbee trophy winner (1975-1976 and 1977-1978)
Five Time NHL All Star – (1975-78, 1980)
Two time Stanley Cup winner – (1974-1975)
613 career games – (15th in Flyers history)
Got a story about Jimmy Watson? We'd love to hear it!
Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia.com. Follow Bill @Wtfd103074.
