BRAD WATSON (NHL REFEREE) RELISHES COMING HOME TO REGINA TO REFEREE

Brad Watson relishes coming home to Regina to referee

By Rob Vanstone, The Regina Leader Post

September 22, 2009

Brad Watson's presence was an anniversary present for his parents on Monday.

Bob and Jean Watson commemorated 52 years of marriage by visiting the Brandt Centre to watch their son referee an NHL pre-season game between the Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning. They had not seen Brad officiate a game in person since 2006. (Photo: by Don Healy, Regina Leader-Post)

To mark the occasion, a proud son also bought flowers and a card.

Watson's cheering section at the Brandt Centre consisted of about 20 people, including his parents, sister Karen, brother Craig, and numerous friends.

"Growing up playing all my minor hockey here and starting my officiating here, it's kind of neat to come back and have the opportunity to do an NHL game in Regina,'' Watson said before refereeing Monday's game with Saskatoon product Brad Meier.

"It's coming back to your grassroots, really. It was very special to ask for it and then get it.''

Watson, who is based in Denver, learned about the game in July while in Regina to visit his parents. He promptly contacted Stephen Walkom -- who was then the NHL's director of officiating but has since returned to active duty as a referee -- and requested the Regina game.

Walkom was obliging, meaning that Watson would be able to officiate a game in his hometown for the first time in 16 years. Until Monday, his most recent Regina assignment was a WHL playoff game between the Regina Pats and Swift Current Broncos.

Watson was hired by the NHL in the autumn of 1993. He has since worked in 542 regular-season games, while also being assigned to Stanley Cup finals in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
His extensive resume also includes assignments to the 1989 world junior hockey championship, along with the Memorial Cups of 1986 and 1992.

Monday's game, by contrast, was meaningless in terms of the outcome -- but highly significant to Watson because of his ties to Regina.

"It brings back a lot of memories going in that rink,'' Watson said. "Whether it was working in the Air Canada Cup in 1985 or doing the many Western Hockey League games all the way up to '93, it was nice.

"My family was excited because they can go to the game. Living in Denver and obviously not having any NHL team (in Regina), they've seen me work in person a few times, whether it's in Calgary or Edmonton. This is a nice fit. I'd be sorry if I didn't get the opportunity to do this.''

Watson returned to the Brandt Centre on Saturday night when he watched a WHL game between the Pats and Brandon Wheat Kings. The next night, he and Meier refereed a Saskatoon-based NHL pre-season game between the New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers.

The 47-year-old Watson is to remain in Regina until Wednesday, when he will return to Denver for one day before flying to Finland. He is to referee games Oct. 2 and 3 in Helsinski, where the Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers will collide on back-to-back evenings.