Tim Watters

Timothy John Watters (born July 25, 1959) is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman.

Tim Watters was a rarity in the National Hockey League (NHL), a physical defenceman who stood under 6 feet tall and under 200 pounds. He played in 2 Olympics and well over 700 NHL games, quietly playing a solid though unspectacular role from 1981 through 1995 with the Winnipeg Jets and Los Angeles Kings, two teams that didn't enjoy much success or fanfare. Not having the size to out-muscle opponents, Watters learned to be in perfect position and angled shooters out of harm's way. He read the oncoming rushes very well, and thanklessly cut off passing lanes and blocked shots. He learned to tie up players' sticks and was one of the few modern players to master the hip check.

He retired from the NHL as a player after the 1995 season. He served as an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins during the 1996 season, and as head coach for the NCAA Division I Michigan Tech Huskies from 1996–97 to 1999–2000.

Watters currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona, where he works in the commercial real estate business. He also coaches youth hockey in nearby Tempe.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1975–76 Merritt Centennials BCHL — — — — — — — — — — 1976–77 Kamloops Braves BCHL 60 10 38 48 — — — — — — 1976–77 Kamloops Chiefs WCHL 15 3 0 3 29 2 0 0 0 0 1977–78 Michigan Tech University WCHA 37 1 15 16 47 — — — — — 1978–79 Michigan Tech University WCHA 38 6 21 27 48 — — — — — 1979–80 Canadian National Team Intl 56 8 21 29 43 — — — — — 1980–81 Michigan Tech University WCHA 43 12 38 50 36 — — — — — 1981–82 Winnipeg Jets NHL 69 2 22 24 97 4 0 1 1 8 1981–82 Tulsa Oilers CHL 5 1 2 3 0 — — — — — 1982–83 Winnipeg Jets NHL 77 5 18 23 98 3 0 0 0 2 1983–84 Winnipeg Jets NHL 74 3 20 23 169 3 1 0 1 2 1984–85 Winnipeg Jets NHL 63 2 20 22 74 8 0 1 1 16 1985–86 Winnipeg Jets NHL 56 6 8 14 97 — — — — — 1986–87 Winnipeg Jets NHL 63 3 13 16 119 10 0 0 0 21 1987–88 Canadian National Team Intl 10 0 3 3 2 — — — — — 1987–88 Winnipeg Jets NHL 36 0 0 0 106 4 0 0 0 4 1988–89 Los Angeles Kings NHL 76 3 18 21 168 11 0 1 1 6 1989–90 Los Angeles Kings NHL 62 1 10 11 92 4 0 0 0 6 1990–91 Los Angeles Kings NHL 45 0 4 4 92 7 0 0 0 12 1991–92 Los Angeles Kings NHL 37 0 7 7 92 6 0 0 0 8 1991–92 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL 5 0 3 3 6 — — — — — 1992–93 Los Angeles Kings NHL 22 0 2 2 18 22 0 2 2 30 1992–93 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL 31 3 3 6 43 — — — — — 1993–94 Los Angeles Kings NHL 60 1 9 10 67 — — — — — 1994–95 Los Angeles Kings NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1994–95 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL 36 1 8 9 58 7 0 1 1 10 NHL totals 741 26 151 177 1289 82 1 5 6 115

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1980 Canada OG 6 1 1 2 0 1983 Canada WC 10 0 0 0 8 1988 Canada OG 8 0 1 1 2 Senior totals 24 1 2 3 10

Head coaching record

† Watters was fired in November and replaced by Mike Sertich

Awards and honours Award Year All-WCHA First Team 1980–81 AHCA West All-American 1980–81 All-NCAA All-Tournament Team 1981