OHL Notes: Spirit hire new head coach

***NEWS RELEASE***

(Saginaw, MI) The Saginaw Spirit are pleased to welcome Todd Watson as the team's new head coach. Watson comes to Saginaw after four highly successful seasons with the Plymouth Whalers, as the assistant general manager and associate head coach. He was a critical component of the Whalers romp through the Ontario Hockey League during the 2006-2007 season, where they clinched the league championship title and represented the OHL at the 2007 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Vancouver. During his tenure with the Whalers, the perennial West Division contenders compiled a regular season record of 146-95-18-13.

"We believe Todd has had a lot to do with Plymouth's success, and we are excited that we have attracted one of the brightest young coaches in the game of hockey,” stated Spirit Owner and Governor Richard J. Garber. “Todd has won many championships and we look forward to him bringing his passion and energy to our program. With Todd and General Manager Don Edwards we think we are going to have a dynamic leadership that will develop the young men who play for the Spirit as players and just as importantly people".

“We have landed a wonderful candidate who was instrumental in helping guide the Plymouth Whalers to the Memorial Cup last season,” stated Spirit General Manager Don Edwards. “Todd is a perceptive student of the game, a fabulous leader, a tremendous communicator and strict disciplinarian. The minute I met him, I thought we had great chemistry and am excited to work with him to develop a championship caliber team here in Saginaw.”

Watson joined the Plymouth Whalers after spending time with in the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors coaching system, with stints as the head coach for their Midget Minor and Midget Major teams. In 2002 he was named the team's general manager and head coach, compiling a record of 115-37-6 in three season. Watson led the Ambassadors to a US Jr. A national championship and was named the NAHL Coach of the Year. He was the head coach for the NAHL Top Prospects team for the 2002-2003 season and was named the NAHL Executive of the Year in 2003.

Watson also directed the Whalers Hockey School for the past nine seasons and the Detroit Compuware AAA Youth Hockey Clubs for the last four.

“Todd Watson has been a championship coach at each level of the game that he has been involved with, including his experience behind the bench at this year's Memorial Cup,” stated Spirit President and Managing Partner Craig Goslin. “Our entire organization is thrilled to have his leadership, passion, competitiveness and character to direct the young men that make up our roster, on and off the ice. Todd's work ethic and communication skills are second to none in this league as he comes to us with the highest of recommendations from all parts of the world of hockey. As impressive as his resume is, he is even more impressive as an all around human being.”

Watson is a native of Michigan and will be joined in Saginaw by his wife Nicole and their four children – Emily 7, Joseph 6, Alison 5 and John Michael 4. “We are excited to welcome Todd and his family to our community and organization,” stated Goslin.