Coloradoan Brad Watson called it a career Saturday, concluding a 23-year stint as an NHL referee before family and friends at the Pepsi Center. I feel fortunate to have been among those friends.
A scratch golfer, good hockey player, and terrific story-teller, Watson hand-picked his 1,393rd and last NHL game — choosing his adopted hometown team hosting the Chicago Blackhawks in concluding his 73-game, regular-season annual commitment.
“It’s a wonderful way to go out. It’s at home, where I’ve been for 19 years,” Watson said.
Watson, 57, worked 214 playoff games and eight Stanley Cup Finals, including 2013 when the Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins in six games. His first playoff game was April 13, 2000, when the Avs hosted the Arizona Coyotes for Game 1 of a first-round series at the Pepsi Center.
The league’s oldest ref, Watson has close ties with former Chicago coach Joel Quenneville and Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic — two respectful relationships created in 1996 when Watson worked his first NHL game and the Avs were at their inaugural season in Colorado. Sakic was the star center at the time and Quenneville an assistant trainer.
“Too bad Quenneville got fired but I like doing the Blackhawks and the Avs have always been good to me,” said Watson, who had been honored at the Pepsi Center before his 1,000th game on Jan. 21, 2014 — during Sakic’s next year as GM.
A transplant from Regina, Saskatchewan, Watson has been on the goodbye trail for two weeks. Every last stop has been memorable, including Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C., following the Hurricanes defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in a shootout. Regardless of the loss, Pens captain and future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby led each of his teammates at a handshake line. Watson was the recipient.
After Wednesday’s match in Washington, where the Capitals defeated Tampa Bay in overtime, there were more handshakes as well as post-game beers.
“I see teams for the last time and they find out its the last time I’m going to see them. It’s pretty cool, especially the men who you’ve seen their careers develop,” Watson said. “Crosby, (Alex) Ovechkin, Justin Williams, who I reffed in three Stanley Cup Finals. He’s a gamer, and he sits there and says, ‘Man, I’ve seen your career, and you’ve had an excellent career. ’
Related Articles
Minus two all-stars, Avs defeat Blackhawks to climb back into playoff place
Avalanche hosts the Chicago Blackhawks in referee Brad Watson’s swan song
Philipp Grubauer’s 44 helps Avalanche overcome Stars 3-1
Kiszla: How did Broncos fall to dead last in power rankings of Denver’s big four sports franchises?
Avalanche-Red Wings rivalry revisited: The Russian Five invades Denver
“So the players are great. A lot of times it’s done on the ice (during the game). They skate by and say, ‘Great career’ and that. The coaches of Washington came into our area after and had a beer. I was in Minnesota last weekend and (GM) Lou Lamoriello of the Islanders came into our area. I had been in Carolina and Crosby got all his players to come over and they went through a lineup and shook my hand. Same with Carolina, and their GM came in and gave me a jersey. ”
Watson is sad to see the end of his career but excited for the future, with far less travel and more time spent with wife Amy and their son, Reid, 14, and daughter Genabeth, 12. Watson hopes to remain in hockey as an NHL supervisor and return as the old veterans did for him in the 1990s.
Make no mistake, Watson lasted as long as he did because he was considered among the very best. In addition to working the Cup Finals in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014, Watson worked the 2004 World Cup, 2008 NHL All-Star Game in Atlanta and 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. In addition, he worked four NHL outdoor games, such as Feb. 26, 2014 at Coors Field when the Red Wings defeated the Avalanche.
The game will miss Brad Watson, my friend.
Buy Tickets for every event – Sports, Concerts, Festivals and more buytickets.com