ECHL All-Star Brayden Watts continues breakout hockey season in Wichita Thunder win
Behind a breakout season from 23-year-old forward Brayden Watts, the Wichita Thunder head into the All-Star break in prime position to return to the playoffs.
Watts doled out two assists, including a helper on the game-winner, in Wichita’s 6-3 win over the Tulsa Oilers at Intrust Bank Arena on Sunday night.
The Thunder, which have won 13 of their last 21 games, improved to 21-13-3-0 on the season. Their total of 45 points ranks second in the Mountain division of the ECHL standings. The top four teams in each division advance to the 2023 Kelly Cup, as Wichita has a 16-point advantage on the fifth-place team entering the second-half of the season.
Watts, who ranks second in the league in points (49), fourth in goals (19) and third in assists (30), will represent Wichita in the ECHL All-Star Classic, which will be played Monday in Norfolk, Va.
Back for his third season in Wichita, Watts has blossomed in an expanded role with the club. The 49 points through 36 games has already surpassed his production from last season, when he registered 46 points in 52 appearances.
The accomplishment is even more impressive considering the Thunder finished dead-last in the division last season and now Watts is having his career-best production on a team poised to return to the postseason for just the third time in the last nine years.
After a hot stretch in December, Wichita’s play had cooled off recently. Needing a win to steady themselves ahead of the five-day break, the Thunder rallied for three unanswered goals in the third period of Sunday’s win over Tulsa.
Dylan MacPherson netted the game-winner five minutes into the third period, carrying the puck through the neutral zone and beating the Tulsa goalkeeper top-shelf on the near side for his seventh goal of the season.
Wichita found breathing room when Quinn Preston hammered home a one-timer from the left side for a 5-3 lead at the 13:49 mark, then Jay Dickman sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final three minutes.
Michal Stinil, another promising 23-year-old forward, continued his strong play this season with a goal and two assists on Sunday. He ranks fifth in the ECHL in goals (18), third in assists (30) and third in points (48), while his 1.50 points per game lead the team.
The Thunder are undefeated (8-0) this season when scoring at least five goals.
This story was originally published January 16, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
.jpg)