ST. PAUL – After a season that was cut short due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Isaak Watters is ready to make a name for himself on the St. Paul Jr. B Canadiens’ roster.
The 18-year-old from Bonnyville will be gearing up for what is, technically, his second year with the team.
“I only really played one game with the Canadiens last year,” he told Lakeland This Week.
The 2020/21 season was looking up for Watters. After being cut by the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs, he headed down to Texas, United States to play, but didn’t like what he saw.
“I didn’t really like the culture and some of the stuff the players were doing,” he recalled. “I came back and didn’t really have a plan or team or anywhere to play.”
He then started talking with coaches from the Canadiens and the Cold Lake Jr. B Ice. In the end, he decided to play for St. Paul.
“There were a couple of players there that I had played with before that were texting me and trying to get me to go and play on the team. My family is closer to St. Paul, so they would have been able to come and watch more games.”
Unfortunately for Watters, his first game with St. Paul would be his last for the team that season.
“Two days after that game we were supposed to go to Lac La Biche to play but our captain tested positive (for COVID-19). We had to quarantine and then Lac La Biche had to quarantine. Then we were going to go after those two weeks but then the government shut the season down.”
The six-foot three-inch forward has been a lifelong hockey fan. Originally, his parents were reluctant to let him play and only agreed because of his persistence.
“I always asked my parents to start playing right from Kindergarten, but they didn’t really let me or my brother play until I was in Grade 5.”
Watters added, “My dad had a thing against the culture. He wasn’t a big fan of the fighting and that part of hockey. I eventually asked him enough times where he finally said ‘okay.’’”
He spent most of his minor career in rinks in Bonnyville, honing his skills until he headed off to Lloydminster Bobcats when he was a midget. He played second year AA midget in Bonnyville and then donned the Bobcats jersey for another year.
During his second year of bantam, the Bonnyville Pontiacs recruited Watters and he started attending their spring camps. Although he made an impression, he was eventually cut from the team in October 2020 and that led to him joining St. Paul in November.
Watters is grateful for the chance to be hitting the ice so close to home.
“It’s kind of hard to leave when my family wants to be there for everything. If my mom and dad could, they wouldn’t miss anything for any of their kids, and they have five of them.”
When asked what his goals were for the sport, Watters said volunteering in minor hockey is a top priority.
“It’s really hard not to when so many people put in so much time and effort into you as a player. It’s kind of rude not to give back and help coach someone else,” he explained. “It’s mostly just volunteers and parents doing it. If you’re not going to, once you have those skills and you do become good at the sport, it’s almost disrespectful to them if you’re not willing to help someone else advance their skills.”
