NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers prospect Avery Watson loads up for a shot at the Tigers' training camp over the weekend. Watson became the fifth member of Medicine Hat's 2023 draft class to sign with the club.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Avery Watson made the most of his Medicine Hat Tigers training camp experience.
The 15-year-old forward took part in the Tabbies’ camp, signed his WHL scholarship and development agreement with the club and played in a 7-4 preseason win Tuesday at Lethbridge against the Hurricanes.
He enjoyed every minute he was in Medicine Hat for camp and the preseason and says he’s learning what being a Tiger means.
“It was unbelievable, everybody from Willie (Desjardins) at the top, all the way down to the players, everyone was super nice, super respectful and they all showed me the ropes there on what it’s like to be a Medicine Hat Tiger,” Watson said.
“It’s all work ethic, the level there is super fast paced and everybody’s way stronger, way faster and just better than what you’re used to. Just to be at that level and constantly play at that level, you have to be better day in and day out and be super consistent.”
Watson was selected 159th overall by the Tigers in the 2023 WHL Draft after putting up 24 goals and 52 points in 34 games for the Knights of Columbus Squires U15 AAA program in the Alberta Elite Hockey League. He says signing with the Tigers was a goal he had heading into camp but was focused on just doing his best and he would handle whatever came next.
“I was just trying to make a lasting impression on everybody upstairs, just trying to play my game and make some plays,” Watson said. “I found a little bit of chemistry with the Rucks and have become quite close with them. I had a pretty good camp and I was just trying to learn as much as possible.”
Watson played alongside fellow 2008-born Tigers’ prospects Markus and Liam Ruck and had two shots in Tuesday’s contest. When he signed his deal with Medicine Hat, the Edmonton product became the fifth 2023 draft pick to sign his WHL deal, joining the Rucks and defencemen Riley Steen and Koray Bozkaya.
Watson learned he was drafted by the Tigers in May’s draft while sitting in his room after just finishing school. He was only able to celebrate the selection for a little bit of time as he had a science test the next day, which he scored 80 per cent on.
Once the test was complete, Watson was able to forget about that science and start thinking about chemistry with his orange-and-black team mates.
“Their organization is second to none, with all the history they have and they’re such a great team,” Watson said. “I really believe in these next few years, we’re going to be creating a top contender for the WHL championship and the Memorial Cup. Everybody around (the organization), all the guys were super welcoming to me at the camp and it was just a great experience overall.”
He returned home to Edmonton after Tuesday’s game as he prepares for the season. Watson says the Tigers’ brass told him to take a bit of a break after camp, take every day one at a time and look forward to a call from them. He’s already planning to leave his ringer on in hopes of getting in to some practices or suiting up for a regular season game.
“That’s obviously the goal right now is to make myself stronger and faster to be able to play at that level and consistently,” Watson said. “I know I’m too young this year but the long-term goal is to play as a 16-year-old and be a key component for them.”
Four Tigers
prospects to
represent British Columbia
A quartet of Medicine Hat Tigers prospects will suit up for Team B.C. at the 2023 WHL cup.
B.C. hockey announced its WHL Cup rosters Thursday afternoon, with defencemen Riley Steen and Koray Bozkaya and forwards Markus and Liam Ruck all named to represent their province at the games held in Red Deer from Oct. 17-22.
