Minnesota-Duluth to retire Bill Watson's #14 October 24th vs. Denver

Former Minnesota-Duluth Hobey Baker winner Bill Watson will join an elusive club at AMSOIL Arena next Friday.

The University announced Wednesday that Watson will have his #14 retired during the first period Minnesota-Duluth's game October 24th against Denver. Sophomore Alex Iafallo, who currently wears #14, will be the last person allowed to don that number in a Bulldog sweater.

"Having your number retired is the highest -- and most humbling -- honor that can be bestowed on a player," said Watson, named to the UMD Hall of Fame in 1997, in a statement. "I have been blessed in so many ways and accomplished a lot during my time with the Bulldog hockey program, but this tops them all. It's the cherry on top."

Watson is the third person to receive the honor at Minnesota-Duluth; joining Brett Hull (#29) and Keith "Huffer" Christensen (#9).

The 1985 Hobey Baker Award winner spent three years at Minnesota-Duluth between 1982-85. Watson helped lead UMD to the 1984 NCAA Championship Game as a sophomore. The next season he scored an astonishing 109 points (49G-60A) in 46 games.

As a volunteer coach for the Bulldogs between 2006-07 and last season, Watson is the only person to have both played and coached Minnesota-Duluth in a national championship game.