Wichita brings back Watts

WICHITA, Kan. – The Wichita Thunder, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's San Jose Sharks and American Hockey League's San Jose Barracuda, announced the re-signing of forward Brayden Watts for the 2023-24 season. 

Watts, 24, returns to Wichita for a fourth season. A native of Bakersfield, California, he set new career-highs in goals (23), assists (40) and points (63) in 50 games last season. He was selected as the team's MVP and also represented the Thunder at the 2023 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic this past January. In 164 career games with Wichita, Watts has piled up 139 points (46g-93a).

Prior to turning pro, Watts played a five-year career in the Western Hockey League with Moose Jaw, Vancouver and Prince Albert. In 2019-20, he registered 61 points (29g-32a) in 61 games for Prince Albert. Overall, he collected 161 points (68g-93a) in 315 games during his junior career. In 2018-19, he helped lead the Vancouver Giants to the WHL Championship Series, registering 38 points (12g-26a) in 57 regular-season games and adding 10 points (7g-3a) in 22 playoff games.