# Matt Watkins

Matthew Watkins (born November 22, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played a single game with the Phoenix Coyotes in the National Hockey League (NHL). He currently plays in the senior men's hockey in the WSHL with the Craik Warriors. He was selected by the Dallas Stars in the 5th round (160th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Watkins was born in Aylesbury, Saskatchewan, but grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan.

## Playing career

Watkins signed a one-year contract with the Phoenix Coyotes on July 6, 2011. He was assigned for the majority of the 2011–12 season to AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates.
Watkins left the Coyotes as a free agent to sign a one-year contract with the New York Islanders on July 1, 2012. He spent the duration of the 2012–13 season with the Islanders AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, posting 30 points in 68 games.
On July 8, 2013, he signed a one-year, two way contract as a free agent with the Washington Capitals. For the duration of his contract with the Capitals, Watkins was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears posting 27 points in 73 games of the 2013–14 season.
On July 27, 2014, Watkins signed his first European contract in agreeing to a one-year deal with Austrian club, the Vienna Capitals of the EBEL. As an alternate captain in the 2014–15 season with the Capitals, Watkins contributed offensively with 12 goals and 32 points in 54 games.
On June 18, 2015, Watkin left after one season with the Capitals, to sign a one-year contract with newly promoted Finnish club, KooKoo of the Liiga.

## Career statistics

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2002–03 | Tisdale Trojans AAA | SMHL | 40 | 25 | 26 | 51 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | Humboldt Broncos | SJHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | Tisdale Trojans AAA | SMHL | 44 | 34 | 37 | 71 | 52 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | Vernon Vipers | BCHL | 60 | 36 | 38 | 74 | 53 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 6 |
| 2005–06 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 46 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 38 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 43 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 41 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | Las Vegas Wranglers | ECHL | 14 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | San Antonio Rampage | AHL | 51 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | San Antonio Rampage | AHL | 64 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011–12 | Portland Pirates | AHL | 70 | 11 | 25 | 36 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011–12 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 68 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013–14 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 73 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014–15 | Vienna Capitals | AUT | 54 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 50 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 12 |
| 2015–16 | KooKoo | Liiga | 58 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016–17 | Craik Warriors | WSHL | 18 | 16 | 28 | 44 | 24 | 11 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 20 |
| 2017–18 | Craik Warriors | WSHL | 19 | 23 | 29 | 52 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018–19 | Craik Warriors | WSHL | 8 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 4 |
| 2019–20 | Craik Warriors | WSHL | 4 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
| 2020–21 | Craik Warriors | WSHL | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | Craik Warriors | WSHL | 7 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 0 |
| AHL totals | AHL totals | AHL totals | 326 | 59 | 91 | 150 | 190 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |