The management and staff of the Tulsa Rampage are pleased to announce that Bobby Watson has been tendered by the Kenai River Brown Bears of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The tender allows the Alaska based team to sign Watson prior to the try-out period in order to ensure that he will join their squad for the 2009-2010 season.
The 16 year old Broken Arrow Oklahoma native was the youngest player for the Tulsa Rampage in the 2008-2009 season and fittingly is the youngest Tulsa area player to advance to the NAHL. Although a small player, Watson impressed his coaches, opponents, and Brown Bears Coach Brent Agrusa with his grit, speed, and skill. "We are very excited to have Bobby come to Kenai," Agrusa says "he will continue our philosophy of bringing in skilled, offensive players which will move us closer to our ultimate goal of being one of the most exciting and offensive teams in the NAHL."
Watson's talent for the sport began developing at an early age. He joined a roller hockey team at age five and shortly afterward began preparing for the transfer to ice by taking speed skating lessons from the longtime Oilers Ice Center coach who is aptly named Burt Speed. He joined the Tulsa Flames ice hockey team at age nine and quickly began to demonstrate a significant ability. Throughout his seasons with the youth program, he was selected for a variety of USA Hockey events and at age 14 moved to Dallas to play for the Texas Attack AA level program.
His age and size were a concern to then Rampage coach Chad MacLeod who signed Watson after telling him that he would more than likely not make the lineup in many games. Watson was determined to prove the coach's prediction wrong and in the end played in every game of the 2008-2009 season. "I am so impressed with Bobby's work ethic, he trained all summer in the gym and on the ice," MacLeod said "and he went from being a kid I didn't think would play much to being a star player on my top line. I am so proud of him." General Manager Julie Wilson echoes MacLeod's sentiment. "You can't help but be proud of Bobby and you gotta love that kid," she says "he works hard every second of his training and has a phenomenal attitude. Even though he's young, he certainly deserves to advance so we're all really pleased with the tender."
Watson will remain in Tulsa to train throughout the summer before moving to Alaska for the 2009-2010 season.