Harry Watson

Harry Ellis Watson (July 14, 1898 — September 11, 1957) was a Canadian amateur ice hockey player. He was a member of the Toronto Granites team that won a gold medal for Canada in ice hockey at the 1924 Winter Olympics. He was posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962, and into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1998.

Early years Born Henry Ellis Watson in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, he was known as 'Harry' from as early as 1915, and is only recorded as Henry in official documents. He lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba before moving to Toronto at the age of 16. Watson was educated in Winnipeg and at St. Andrews College from January 1915 to June 1916, where he was nicknamed 'Squirt' . He played in the College 1st Hockey and 1st football teams, and became the first team all-star in 1915. Between 1915 and 1917, Watson also played for the Toronto Aura Lee ice hockey team before joining the Royal Flying Corps in Toronto in March 1917.

Royal Flying Corps Watson sailed for England in July 1917 and, following flying training, was posted to No. 41 Squadron Royal Flying Corps in November. He served with the unit until July 1918, in that time claiming six victories and becoming a fighter ace. He flew a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a to victory over an Albatros D.V on 25 January 1918, sharing the win with fellow Canadian Frank H. Taylor. By the time he scored his sixth and final victory on 4 July, he had destroyed another enemy plane and sent four more down out of control. After being rested, he was repatriated to Canada in January 1919.

Playing career After the war, Watson joined the Toronto Dentals in a playoff series against the Hamilton Tigers, which the Tigers won. For the 1919–20 season, he joined the new Toronto Granites, the OHA team from the Toronto Granite Club. Led by Watson, the Granites won the Allan Cup in 1921–22 and 1922–23, with Watson named a first-team all-star in both seasons. They then represented Canada at the 1924 Winter Olympics, winning the ice hockey gold medal. At the Olympics, Watson scored 36 goals in five games as the Canadian team outscored the opposition 132-3 over six games. In one game against Switzerland, Watson scored 13 goals.

He turned down several lucrative offers to play professionally in the National Hockey League. Charlie Querrie, manager of the Toronto St. Patricks, offered Watson $10,000 to join his team for the 1924–25 season, but Watson declined. His Granites teammate Hooley Smith would have a 17-year NHL career, but Watson wanted to enter the business world and retired as a player in 1924.

Coaching career In 1930, he became coach of the Toronto National Sea Fleas senior amateur team. During the 1931 playoff season, Watson refereed several OHA games. In December 1931, during his second season behind the bench for the Sea Fleas, Watson made a brief comeback as a player at the age of 33 after one of his players was unable to make a road trip. As coach, Watson guided the team to the Allan Cup in 1932.

Death and Honours Watson died in London, Ontario, on 11 September 1957, following an operation for a brain tumour. . He was posthumously inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962, and into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1998.