Another London native is on his way to placing his name on the LA Kings roster.
Ever since the moment his dad laced up his first pair of skates, Spencer Watson has dreamed of playing in the NHL.
Watson spent five years playing in the Ontario Hockey League, four with the Kingston Frontenacs and then the Mississauga Steelheads for his over-ager year.
It was in the 2014 NHL Draft that Watson was picked 209th overall by the LA Kings, and he began to see his life-long dream transform into a tangible goal.
The journey for Watson has been filled with instances of perseverance – a characteristic he attributes to his hockey experiences. He highlighted the lessons hockey has provided him, with his biggest lesson being that there is no time to get down on yourself. “You just have to push through whatever comes your way. There is a lot of ups and downs in the game, just like there is in life. You have to find that way to get through what you need to get through and it isn’t easy at times, but I think hockey has taught me that you always need to be patient – things will come.”
He is now playing for the Ontario Reign in the American Hockey League. While he admits that there is still work to be done, Watson feels confident in his position on the Reign roster. “I think with each game I’m learning how to play at this new level, and with each game I feel more confident. I know I’m going to hit my stride and I certainly have no doubt in my mind that I will succeed up here.”
While still trying to absorb every experience he has been given, Watson made it clear that having the right mindset will get you to the place you want to be. “You never know who’s watching, whether it’s your family or fans or scouts, you can never take a shift off. Someone is always watching, whether they look up to you as their role model or as their next starting line, they deserve to see you give 110% every moment.”
