jamal watson

about

Originally from Calgary, Jamal is currently in the fourth year of his professional hockey career. while hockey has taken him around the world, Calgary remains his home base during the off-season. prior to turning pro Jamal pursued a degree in Accounting at Mount royal university Business School. Jamal brings a unique perspective to the game of hockey through many diverse experiences. from junior hockey and student-athlete life to the professional ranks, jamal holds a comprehensive understanding of various hockey environments.

In addition to his playing career, Jamal has gained valuable experience in video analysis with the Calgary Flames, reflecting his deep passion for the sport. He has also dedicated many of his summers to coaching, working with both small groups and teams, which has honed his instructional skills. Jamal employs a holistic approach to coaching, focusing on technical, physical, emotional, and mental development to prepare players for the challenges and successes they will encounter as they advance in their hockey careers.

playing career

Jamal’s hockey career began in the NWCAA association, where he played for the bantam aaa bronks for two seasons. jamal was drafted by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft and completed a successful five-year major junior career, totaling 328 games with 88 goals, 93 assists, and 204 penalty minutes. jamal was named Captain of the lethbridge Hurricanes for the 2014-2015 season.

Following his major junior career, Jamal transitioned to playing hockey for the Mount Royal University cougars, leveraging the WHL Scholarship program. At MRU, he completed a Bachelor’s degree in Business Accounting while continuing to excel on the ice. In his fourth year, he seamlessly transitioned from playing forward to playing defense due to team injuries, maintaining impressive point production with 29 goals and 49 assists in 108 games, plus 16 points in 17 playoff games.

Jamal’s professional career spans four years and continues as he seeks to extend his playing tenure. In his professional debut season in the eihl, he scored 14 goals and 37 assists in 54 games, leading his team in scoring from the back end and earning a First Team All-Star award. During the 2023-24 season with Hockey Club Innsbruck of the ICEHL, he continued his production as a defensemnan by registering 10 goals and 20 assists in 48 games, ranking fourth among defensemen in the league. Last season, with ESV Kaufbeuren, he tallied 11 goals and 24 assists in 52 games, placing eighth in defensemen scoring and second on his team. This performance earned him a two-year contract extension for the 2025-26 season with esv kaufbeuren of the del2.

awards and achievements

2010 Drafted 5th Round 103 overall to the Lethbridge Hurricanes

2014-15 Named Captain of the Lethbridge Hurricanes

2015 Montreal Canadiens Spring Development Camp

2015 Montreal Canadiens Rookie and Main Camp

2016-17 Canada West All Rookie team

2020-21 SPHL Champion with Pensacola Ice Flyers

2021 EIHL First Team All-Star

“Hockey is exceptional because of its demands and challenges. Success in the sport requires diligence and commitment, as shortcuts ultimately lead to weaknesses that can impede a player's potential. My journey from the bottom to the top of the hockey ladder has reinforced the value of embracing every challenge without cutting corners.

My goal is to help players leverage their skill and talent to reach the highest levels of the game while being mentally and emotionally prepared for the rigors of a hockey season. I emphasize the importance of not merely rising to the occasion but performing consistently at the level of one’s preparation. I strive to instill a deep passion for the game, where hard work and continuous improvement are enjoyable and fulfilling. True reward in hockey comes from dedication and perseverance, not from shortcuts.”

- Jamal Watson