Austin Watson Austin Watson ( born January 13 , 1992 ) is an American major junior ice hockey left winger for the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League ( OHL ) . He was selected 18th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft . Personal life . Austin Watson was born January 13 , 1992 , in Ann Arbor , Michigan , where he grew up with his father and mother , Mike and Mary Watson . He is the oldest of ten children , nine boys and one girl . He went to school one year at Detroit Catholic Central High School , and one year at Father Gabriel Richard High School before he was drafted into the OHL , where he attended St . Anne ' s High School , and after being traded to Peterborough , finishing high school there . Watson played for the high school golf team at Father Gabriel Richard , where they went to state finals . Playing career . Early career . Before the OHL , Watson played all of his early hockey with the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors , whose home arena is Compuware Arena . While playing for the Ambassadors , Watson received early exposure to OHL hockey , as Compuware Arena is also home to the Plymouth Whalers . Junior hockey . At first , Watson did not show interest in the OHL , and verbally committed to the University of Maine Black Bears , planning on playing for the US U - 17 team . Because of his plans to play college , although he was projected to go second overall in the OHL draft , he ended up going 36th overall . Because the U - 17 delayed on giving him a spot , Watson decided to forgo his verbal commitment to Maine and play with the Windsor Spitfires . Windsor Spitfires . Although it was a gamble , the Spitfires took a chance and drafted Watson . Their bet paid off . Watson came into the OHL with a bang , surprising people with his fast skating and smart playing . Despite the fact that Watson hit a slump mid - season , he came out with 10 goals and 19 assists , for a total of 29 points . During playoffs , after a total of 20 games played , he snatched up 3 more points in the form of assists . While Watson had a remarkable rookie season , he accompanied the Spitfires to becoming the most elite in the league , the CHL Memorial Cup champions , at the same time breaking the record and becoming the first team to ever come back for an overall win from fourth place in the finals . Also , it was the first Spitfires franchise win of the Memorial Cup . Peterborough Petes . On January 11 , 2010 , the Spitfires traded Watson to the Peterborough Petes . The trade was smart for him career - wise as he now receives a chance at more playing time on this younger team . Watson played in the 2010 CHL Top Prospects game for Team Cherry , and played well , as he , among other things , broke up a 5 - on - 3 penalty kill , though unfortunately broke his ankle blocking a second shot and could not play for a month with the Petes . International play . Watson was selected to play for the USA national team for the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament . Despite the fact that the US did not win , Watson played well . 2010 IIHF World Men ’ s Under - 18 Championship . Selected to play for the U . S . National team , Watson played with them to win the gold medal ultimately , even though he was ejected from the game 5 minutes in for a boarding call . NHL Draft 2010 . While playing with the Spitfires , Watson was projected to go 25th according to the International Scouting Service ( ISS ) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft , but after an advantageous trade to the Petes , he jumped in rank 11 places and was ranked 14th in April , where the NHL Central Scouting Final Ranks place him . According to the ISS he ranks 12th . Watson was drafted 18th overall by the Nashville Predators . His entire family was there to support him – all nine siblings including another one on the way .