J. D. Watt Explained

League:ACAC
Team:SAIT Trojans
Former Teams:Quad City Flames
Las Vegas Wranglers
Utah Grizzlies
Abbotsford Heat
San Antonio Rampage
Birth Date:25 May 1987
Birth Place:Cremona, Alberta, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:208
Position:Right Wing
Shoots:Right
Draft:111th overall
Draft Year:2005
Draft Team:Calgary Flames
Career Start:2005
Career End:2012

J. D. Watt (born May 25, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. He was originally drafted by the Flames in the fourth round (111th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Beginning with the 2012–13 season, Watt has been playing with the SAIT Trojans of the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference (ACAC). Watt was born and raised in Cremona, Alberta.

Playing career

A native of Cremona, Alberta, Watt played Junior A hockey with the Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) in 2003–04 before joining the major junior ranks with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL) late in the season. Playing with the Giants, Watt won the 2006 President's Cup and the 2007 Memorial Cup championships. He played for the Red Deer Rebels and the Regina Pats in his final year of major junior.

Watt was drafted after his second junior season by his hometown team, the Calgary Flames (Cremona is approximately just 75 km outside of Calgary), in the fourth round, 111th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. In 2008–09, he was initially assigned to the Flames' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Quad City Flames, but was quickly reassigned to the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL. On November 9, 2008, he recorded his first professional hat trick and added an assist for a four-point night against the Phoenix RoadRunners in a 6–2 win.[1] Watt was recalled, however, by the Quad City Flames on December 8, 2008.[2] He was suspended by the AHL late in the season for four games on February 24, 2009, after delivering a check to the head in a game against the San Antonio Rampage.[3]

On January 5, 2011, the Calgary Flames announced that J.D. Watt's contract has been terminated effective immediately. "J.D. notified us on Monday that he was no longer interested in pursuing his career with the Calgary Flames organization," "He informed us of his decision and as a result, he was then suspended and cleared unconditional waivers this morning. We are moving forward in the best interests of the hockey club, our players in Abbotsford and the Flames organization."

During the 2010–11 AHL season Watt played 27 games with the Abbotsford Heat, recording one goal and three assists for four points while accumulating 73 penalty minutes. On May 1, 2011, Watt left the Calgary Flames' organization.[4]

As a professional, Watt was known for his abrasive style of play as an agitator.[5] During his eight years of play in the Western Hockey League, American Hockey League, and ECHL, Watt was penalized for 117 fights. He joined the SAIT Trojans with the 2012–13 season,[6] and through his first season of ACAC play, which included 28 regular season games and 8 playoff contests, Watt was not involved in a single fight.[7]

Awards

Career statistics

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2003–04Drumheller DragonsAJHL59201739249
2003–04Vancouver GiantsWHL310101003314
2004–05Vancouver GiantsWHL666713213601112
2005–06Vancouver GiantsWHL58829371991843742
2006–07Vancouver GiantsWHL703419531822123572
2007–08Red Deer RebelsWHL29781587
2007–08Regina PatsWHL296162282626819
2008–09Quad City FlamesAHL42022146
2008–09Las Vegas WranglersECHL185914511634770
2009–10Utah GrizzliesECHL10005
2009–10Abbotsford HeatAHL70851326720009
2010–11Abbotsford HeatAHL2713473
2011–12Ontario ReignECHL30410147851010
2011–12Manchester MonarchsAHL1921327
2012–13SAITACAC2813274036823526
2013–14SAITACAC21614207341344
AHL totals1399101948620009

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wranglers cruise past Roadrunners. 2008-11-10. 2008-11-09. OurSports Central.
  2. Web site: Calgary Flames Transactions. https://web.archive.org/web/20050530201043/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/teams/transactions?team=cgy. dead. May 30, 2005. 2009-03-11. 2008-12-08. ESPN.
  3. Web site: Flames winger Watt suspended 4 games by AHL. 2009-03-11. 2009-02-24. OurSports Central. https://web.archive.org/web/20110525235141/http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=mlh%2Fnews%2Fnews.aspx%3Fid%3D4214953. May 25, 2011. dead.
  4. Web site: J.D. Watt.
  5. Web site: Q&A with J.D. Watt. 2008-11-10. 2006-05-28. HockeysFuture.com.
  6. Web site: J.D. Watt brings pro experience to SAIT Trojans. Calgary Sun.
  7. News: Emery . James . November 22, 2013 . Light on Fight: After scrapping his way through pro ranks, Watt's settled down for Trojans . Calgary Sun . Page 32 .