Durham born Watkins becomes the second player to switch the Shropshire second-tier club for East Yorkshire, following the earlier addition of Daniel Scott, after recording four goals and eight points in 48 games in his rookie year in the EPL spent under coach and brother Tom Watkins.
Having made his senior debut at the age of 15 with the English National League's Whitley Warriors, recording three goals and two assists in seven games, Watkins moved south the following year, joining brother Tom for what would turn out to be his final season with the the Coventry Blaze.
He spent the majority of his time at the Skydome icing for the Blazes' ENL farm team - recording a further five goals and eight assists in 24 games - however, he also went on to make his bow at top flight level, playing a bit-part in 32 games as the Blaze went on to lift the Elite League title.
Last season, having made his debut for Great Britain at the U18 Division I World Championships the previous year, the North East native joined brother Tom in Telford for their first year back in the second tier and he played what was primarily a third-line role in 48 games in the EPL as the Tigers finished ninth just outside the playoffs. He also made three Elite League appearances on a two-way deal with Coventry, coincidentally icing at the Hull Arena in their 7-2 defeat of the Stingrays in March.
Although the teenager recorded just eight points in nearly 50 games last season, he earned rave reviews playing a role on the Tigers lower lines in his first year in the EPL and he is thought to have a bright future in the game.
Clearly highly-rated by both GB and Coventry coach Paul Thompson, who twice signed him for the Blaze, and Stingrays player-coach Cloutier, who last watched him put in a convincing performance in England's 10-0 victory over Scotland at the Elite League finals weekend in April, the 6'1, 185lbs forward now comes to Hull for his first full season in the British top flight.
Of his fourth new British signing Cloutier said:
"Jack's a big, strong kid and has a lot of potential. He's a fresh face and wants to prove himself at Elite League level. You have to have guys who are hungry and are excited about playing in Hull. Jack wants to play regular hockey and he know he is going to get that here. It is up to him to take advantage of that. He skates well and has good upside and I am looking forward to working with him and helping develop his game. Hopefully he can be a part of the programme at Stingrays for many years to come."The young prospect, who last season won a bronze medal with GB U20's and was also once again capped by GB U18's, adds energy and depth to a Stingrays line-up that has lost British forward Lee Mitchell this summer and may yet lose further homegrown players.
Regular minutes for Watkins look to have been guaranteed by the Rays player-coach Cloutier with a forward role similar to the one that has previously done wonders for the development of Mitchell, Lee Esders and Matty Davies, amongst others.
This is clearly not an immediate impact signing for the Rays but rather one for the future, again much like Mitchell was in 05/06, with the addition seen as a direct result of the decrease in import numbers in the Elite League next season.
However, with Andy Hirst returning to Sheffield, Dundee duo McCluskey and Cameron-Harper replacing the departing Mitchell brothers, and Watkins and former Telford teammate Scott in as a result of the rule change, the future make up of the rest of the Rays British contingent is unknown with Lee Esders and Ryan Lake yet to re-sign for the upcoming campaign
The Hull Daily Mail initially reported the pair had re-signed with their hometown club after agent, Aspire Sports Group, mistakenly had them down as returning to Cloutier's side on its website. However, that was quickly rejected by both the agent and Lake and Esders, and both now remain unsigned for the next year with speculation suggesting Esders is likely to depart for Braehead.
