By REED SCHRECK
Rockford Register Star
ROCKFORD -- Few Rockford IceHogs fans got to see a healthy Bruce Watson play for the team.
That's because he was injured in the franchise's very first game. He managed to play seven more games with the team before finishing the season with the Asheville Smoke.
Now, he's back. And it's no coincidence that Steve Martinson is the coach. Watson played for him in 2002-03 when the San Diego Gulls won the West Coast Hockey League title.
"To win a championship, it's amazing," he said. "It's the best time ever. I like to win; I hate losing."
Being back in town, he said "it feels like home." As for differences, he sees it in practice.
"There's more drive here," he said. "Guys are working harder than our first year, when we had (Jason) Firth and all those guys. I enjoyed my time here, and we had a lot of talent.
"It's a different mindset now because of the coach, I guess."
Having played under Martinson, Watson knows what to expect.
"Everything's simple," he said. "Get the puck out of our blue line and inside their blue line. Finish your checks and, when you get the opportunity, put the puck in the net."
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound winger has 237 points and 1,698 penalty minutes in 329 pro games.
He was second in the United Hockey League in penalty minutes (401) with Asheville in 2000-01.
"He's a physical guy who can skate," Martinson said. "He can skate and pound other team's defensemen."
Web posted on October 7, 2004
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