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The play of Watson is a big reason the Missouri Mavericks hold a 3-point lead over Tulsa for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Northern Conference. One of the few players who has been with the Central Hockey League team throughout its first season, Watson spent a moment talking about the last week of the season and the Mavs push for a playoff spot.
1. The Mavericks literally went through a revolving door period where it seemed as if one player left and two new players arrived in the locker room. How did the team maintain unity and survive that process?
It was difficult, to be honest with you. But we all knew what Scott (Hillman, coach) and Brent (Thiessen, president and general manager) were doing. Scott wants positive players who buy into team unity, and it took a while to find his type of players. Changes happen in professional sports all the time – it just seems like a lot more were happening here. But now, we have a band of brothers who are all on the same page and who think about only on thing – getting to the playoffs.
2. What is the difference between the team on March 9th and the team that Hillman started the season with back in October?
The guys on the team buy into Scott’s philosophy, our team philosophy. If they didn’t buy into it, well, they’re not here any more.
3. Your team is in the fight of its life for a playoff spot. This past weekend the Mavericks downed Colorado at home, before losing a shootout at Tulsa and returning home and losing to Mississippi. In retrospect, how big was that 6-1 victory over the Eagles?
Huge! I thought we embraced the challenge – we didn’t back down from the challenge, we embraced it. The final week of the season offers so many challenges and we have a team now that will take on any contender and we don’t care if we’re playing at home – which we love, because of our great fans – or playing on the road, we’re going to get the job done.
4. Does it seem like you have been playing in the postseason the past two weeks?
Definitely (smiling). Every game is so big, when we make the playoffs, we’re going to know exactly what it feels like because it seems like every game the past few weeks has been a must-win situation. The biggest game of the season is the next game. After that game, the next game becomes the biggest game of the season.
5. How much fun are you having?
An incredible amount of fun. It’s wonderful. Every guy in this locker room wants to come back next season, where we have an entire season of playing together, and really make something special happen. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season, but we’re really playing well right now and we want to take that into the playoffs.
The play of Watson is a big reason the Missouri Mavericks hold a 3-point lead over Tulsa for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Northern Conference. One of the few players who has been with the Central Hockey League team throughout its first season, Watson spent a moment talking about the last week of the season and the Mavs push for a playoff spot.
1. The Mavericks literally went through a revolving door period where it seemed as if one player left and two new players arrived in the locker room. How did the team maintain unity and survive that process?
It was difficult, to be honest with you. But we all knew what Scott (Hillman, coach) and Brent (Thiessen, president and general manager) were doing. Scott wants positive players who buy into team unity, and it took a while to find his type of players. Changes happen in professional sports all the time – it just seems like a lot more were happening here. But now, we have a band of brothers who are all on the same page and who think about only on thing – getting to the playoffs.
2. What is the difference between the team on March 9th and the team that Hillman started the season with back in October?
The guys on the team buy into Scott’s philosophy, our team philosophy. If they didn’t buy into it, well, they’re not here any more.
3. Your team is in the fight of its life for a playoff spot. This past weekend the Mavericks downed Colorado at home, before losing a shootout at Tulsa and returning home and losing to Mississippi. In retrospect, how big was that 6-1 victory over the Eagles?
Huge! I thought we embraced the challenge – we didn’t back down from the challenge, we embraced it. The final week of the season offers so many challenges and we have a team now that will take on any contender and we don’t care if we’re playing at home – which we love, because of our great fans – or playing on the road, we’re going to get the job done.
4. Does it seem like you have been playing in the postseason the past two weeks?
Definitely (smiling). Every game is so big, when we make the playoffs, we’re going to know exactly what it feels like because it seems like every game the past few weeks has been a must-win situation. The biggest game of the season is the next game. After that game, the next game becomes the biggest game of the season.
5. How much fun are you having?
An incredible amount of fun. It’s wonderful. Every guy in this locker room wants to come back next season, where we have an entire season of playing together, and really make something special happen. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season, but we’re really playing well right now and we want to take that into the playoffs.
