Islanders Assign Former Viper Matt Watkins To AHL:

The New York Islanders have assigned former Vernon Vipers forward Matt Watkins to the Islanders American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  Watkins cleared waivers after the Islanders placed the former Viper on waivers back on September, 14th 2012.  The Islanders signed Watkins back on July, 3rd 2012 to a one-year, two way contract. In 70 regular season games with the AHL Portland Pirates last season Watkins collected (11-25-36) and in one game with the NHL Pheonix Coyotes Watkins went pointless. The Coyotes called up Watkins during last years Stanley cup playoffs but the former Viper never played a game while with the Coyotes before being sent back down to the American Hockey League. Watkins was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the 5th round #160th overall in 2005 but never played with the Stars, before signing an entry-level contract with the Coyotes in 2009 as a free agent. Watkins played one season in Vernon (2004-05) collecting (36-38-74) in 60 regular season games with the Vipers.

Matt Watkins Player Profile:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=74941

This is posted on the Sound Tigers website:

ISLANDERS ASSIGN FIVE TO SOUND TIGERS
 
Release: 09/15/2012

Courtesy: SoundTigers.com

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Sept. 15, 2012) - The New York Islanders announced today that forwards Sean Backman, Colin McDonald and Matt Watkins and defensemen Nathan McIver and Ty Wishart have all cleared waivers and have been assigned to the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Those five players join a group of 19 players that were assigned by the Islanders to the Sound Tigers yesterday, including Marc Cantin, Casey Cizikas, Jason Clark, Calvin de Haan, Brandon DeFazio, Matt Donovan, Mike Halmo, Travis Hamonic, Kirill Kabanov, Jon Landry, Brock Nelson, Aaron Ness, Nino Niederreiter, Anders Nilsson, John Persson, Kevin Poulin, Blair Riley, Johan Sundstrom and David Ullstrom.

The Sound Tigers will begin training camp on Sept. 28 and play their season opener on Friday, Oct. 12 at the Connecticut Whale. Their home opener is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 13 against the Providence Bruins at Webster Bank Arena.

Sound Tigers single game tickets and full season ticket plans for the upcoming 2012-13 season are now available. For information on single game tickets, visit ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000. For information on partial or full season ticket plans as well as group outings, call the Sound Tigers at (203) 334-GOAL or e-mail info@soundtigers.com.