Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Vernon Vipers Alumni Update With Matt Watkins:

Former Vernon Vipers forward Matt Watkins is still playing hockey. Watkins has spent the past four seasons playing in the Wheatland Senior Hockey League with the Craik Warriors.

In 4 games last season Watkins had (5-goals-9-assists-14-points). Watkins has lead the Warriors in scoring two of the past four seasons.

Watkins last played professional hockey in 2016 with KooKoo, a Finnish ice hockey team playing in the first level of Finnish ice hockey league Liiga. The team was established in 1965 and the full name of the club is Kouvolan Kiekko-65.

After four years at the University of North Dakota (2005-2009) Watkins went on to play the next seven years in five leagues with eight teams (San Antonio Rampage, Las Vegas Wranglers, Phoenix Coyotes, Portland Pirates, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Hershey Bears, Vienna Capitals & KooKoo)

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 Pheonix Coyotes in 2009 as a free agent. Watkins played one game with the Coyotes during the 2011-12 season. Watkins spent that season playing with the Coyotes farm club the Portland Pirates in the American Hockey League. The New York Islanders signed Watkins on July, 3rd 2012 to a one-year, two way contract. Watkins would never play with the Islanders. The Islanders placed Watkins on waivers September 14th 2012. Watkins signed with the Washington Capitals July 8th 2013 never played a game with the Capitals, played with Washington's farm team the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League.

Watkins played one season in Vernon (2004-05) collecting (36-goals-38-assists-74-points) in 60 regular season games with the Vipers.

Matt Watkins Player Profile:

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=14871

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