From The Time Traveller
WATSON VOTED TO ALL STARS
Congratulations to Bryan Watson of this Village (Bancroft), who is playing hockey with Peterborough Petes Junior Hockey Club in being chosen to the Junior All Stars. Bryan grabbed the other side of the blueline as defenceman.
BRYAN WATSON, LOCAL HOCKEY PLAYER HAPPY WITH CANADIANS
Bryan Watson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Watson, scaling 164 pounds, and looking in perfect shape, quotes a sports article in the Peterboro Examiner in an interview at Montreal recently, says he was quite happy during our chat. He said: “It’s really great to be up in the National League. I find it hard to believe I’m playing with and against those big league stars I admired so much the last few years. It’s just wonderful. They’re better players than the amateurs, of course, but a lot of them aren’t that much better.” He said there are several with the TPTPetes now who could just about hold their own in the N.H.L. after getting used to it. Bryan says he finds it tough sitting on the bench, “when I want to be out there playing, but that takes time.”
He Deserves Every Bit
Our guess is that Bryan will pick up some $12,000 for his winter’s work, and that’s right good for a 21-year-old athlete. It couldn’t happen to a better guy. He used to play 50 minutes or so on defence for Pete’s last winter game after game, with never a grumble. He’d shrug off injuries and turn in a starry effort with an eye swelled shut. For sheer determination and drive, you just couldn’t beat this youngster, who learned hockey with the minor setup in Peterborough. He and Red Sullivan had much in common. Of such stuff are sports stars made. Bryan was most impressive at Canadiens’ fall camp and Toe Blake just couldn’t keep him off the big team. Fans here will wish him the best in the N.H.L.
BANCROFT PREPARING GALA HOME COMING FOR BRYAN WATSON THEIR FAVOURITE N.H.L. HOCKEY STAR
A welcome home parade for Bancroft’s addition to the N.H.L. has been planned for Thursday May 12, 1966 at 7:30 p.m., with the parade leaving the N.H.H.S. and proceeding to the Faraday Heights recreation area. Bryan has had an excellent season and starred during the playoffs, especially in the Chicago series, when he was able to keep super star Bobby Hull scoreless.
A banner has been placed across the main street and plaques have been sold to the local businessmen and any other interested persons. The proceeds will be used to honour the Pee Wee team who also brought honour to North Hastings by playing their way to the Ontario Finals.
BILL SISLER PROVIDES MINOR BASEBALL WITH MAJOR LIFT IN BANCROFT
Mr. Bill Sisler, a former Major Leaguer with Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Athletics is going to conduct a Baseball Clinic in Bancroft. This clinic is open to boys from seven years to sixteen years. He runs these clinics for two reasons: He enjoys working with the kids and it is his livelihood. This would not have been possible but for Bryan Watson who knows Bill quite well.
- November/December 1966 THE TIMES TRAVELLER
BRYAN WATSON ATTRIBUTES HIS SUCCESS TO HARD WORK
Bryan Watson, Detroit Red Wings’ fiery utility player, attributes his success in the National Hockey League to effort. “I try hard, that’s all.” Watson plays as a forward and on defense, kills penalties and, in one special assignment, shadows Chicago Black Hawk’s Bobby Hull.
During the Stanley Cup semi finals last spring, Hull managed just one goal while Watson was on the ice and Detroit won the best of seven series in six games.
Watson, 24, started skating around his Bancroft, Ontario home when he was three or four years old. He played hockey on ponds, then went into organized hockey at the age of eight or nine. In the 1963-64 season he played 40 games with Montreal Canadians, played most of 1964-65 with Quebec Aces of the AHL, was traded to Chicago and drafted by the Red Wings.
Excerpted From The Landowner 2018 by B.M.
Another Bancroft boy, Bryan Watson, was a star defenceman with the Peterboro Petes under Coach Scotty Bowman. Montreal drafted Watson in 1963. He played 16 seasons in the NHL for Detroit, the Oakland Seals, Pittsburgh and Washington. Like Bob Dillabough Watson still has relatives living in the Bancroft area.
I asked The Times’ publisher Dave Walker if he remembered Watson. Dave asked me if I wanted to see a souvenir. Apparently Bryan was half way across the arena when he shot a puck that hit Dave on the shin. “I still have the marks!” Dave confided. In fact, according to Walker, Bryan’s brother Bill, a local lawyer (now a retired Lawyer), was a smoother skater. “But he was too small (for the NHL).”