Post by Score on Aug 21, 2007 0:30:07 GMT -4
Morrison: it’s little too early to stitch on ‘C'
High-scoring forward likes the look of this year’s P.E.I. Rocket squad
The Guardian
Ask P.E.I. Rocket forward Brett Morrison if he’s ready the wear the captain’s C and he shrugs.
“I try not to think about that. It’s a big thing, but if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen,” Morrison said Monday from the Rocket’s training digs in Pownal. “But I think it would be an honour to be a captain in the Q. I’ve never been one yet in my career.”
The graduated David Laliberte, who signed an entry-level NHL contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in the off-season, held the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club’s captaincy from late Dec. 2005 to April 2007.
Laliberte also set a team scoring record last season with 98 points, including becoming the first Rocket to net 50 goals, so Morrison potentially has big skates to fill.
The 20-year-old Morrison gets his second chance to impress Rocket brass today, when P.E.I. faces the St. John’s Fog Devils for the third straight exhibition game. Start time is 7:30 p.m. in New Glasgow, N.S.
P.E.I. is 2-0 in the pre-season after wins over the Devils on Sunday and Monday. In his first pre-season action Monday, the Howie Centre, N.S., native tallied three assists in a 5-0 victory.
As the elder on a team with 18 returnees from last season, Morrison has weight on his shoulders — heavier still after last year’s 90-point regular season and monster first-round, seven-game playoff series where he scored 16 points (half were goals) against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
But Morrison, who finished last season as the team’s top faceoff man at 59.40 per cent, rejects the mantle of franchise player.
“Well, not really. I know I have to do a lot to help the team, but I think a lot of other guys can contribute, too,” he said. “We’ll have to see when the team gets together and what kind of chemistry (develops), but I think that we have a lot of players returning and if we work hard during the year, I think we have good chance of going far.”
Rocket head coach Yanick Jean is also hesitant to start stitching the C to Morrison’s jersey.
“Everybody knows how good of a player he is. He’s a first line centreman, he would be a first line centreman on any team in this league,” said Jean, “(but) it’s early to see who’s going to be captain of the team. We’ll look at the camp. We’ll see who’s going to take charge, who’s going to step up. Of course, he’s one of the guys who could do it.”
For Morrison’s part, returning ready for Rocket camp had a bit more incentive after the Stanley Cup champs Anaheim Ducks drafted him in the fifth round at the 2007 NHL draft in June.
He’s off to the Ducks’ rookie camp on Sept. 4, so possibly the pros loom, but for now Morrison’s concentrating on his fourth QMJHL season.
“I tried to come back in shape and do as best as I could on the ice and show the younger guys what you have to do to play in the league.”
High-scoring forward likes the look of this year’s P.E.I. Rocket squad
The Guardian
Ask P.E.I. Rocket forward Brett Morrison if he’s ready the wear the captain’s C and he shrugs.
“I try not to think about that. It’s a big thing, but if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen,” Morrison said Monday from the Rocket’s training digs in Pownal. “But I think it would be an honour to be a captain in the Q. I’ve never been one yet in my career.”
The graduated David Laliberte, who signed an entry-level NHL contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in the off-season, held the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club’s captaincy from late Dec. 2005 to April 2007.
Laliberte also set a team scoring record last season with 98 points, including becoming the first Rocket to net 50 goals, so Morrison potentially has big skates to fill.
The 20-year-old Morrison gets his second chance to impress Rocket brass today, when P.E.I. faces the St. John’s Fog Devils for the third straight exhibition game. Start time is 7:30 p.m. in New Glasgow, N.S.
P.E.I. is 2-0 in the pre-season after wins over the Devils on Sunday and Monday. In his first pre-season action Monday, the Howie Centre, N.S., native tallied three assists in a 5-0 victory.
As the elder on a team with 18 returnees from last season, Morrison has weight on his shoulders — heavier still after last year’s 90-point regular season and monster first-round, seven-game playoff series where he scored 16 points (half were goals) against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.
But Morrison, who finished last season as the team’s top faceoff man at 59.40 per cent, rejects the mantle of franchise player.
“Well, not really. I know I have to do a lot to help the team, but I think a lot of other guys can contribute, too,” he said. “We’ll have to see when the team gets together and what kind of chemistry (develops), but I think that we have a lot of players returning and if we work hard during the year, I think we have good chance of going far.”
Rocket head coach Yanick Jean is also hesitant to start stitching the C to Morrison’s jersey.
“Everybody knows how good of a player he is. He’s a first line centreman, he would be a first line centreman on any team in this league,” said Jean, “(but) it’s early to see who’s going to be captain of the team. We’ll look at the camp. We’ll see who’s going to take charge, who’s going to step up. Of course, he’s one of the guys who could do it.”
For Morrison’s part, returning ready for Rocket camp had a bit more incentive after the Stanley Cup champs Anaheim Ducks drafted him in the fifth round at the 2007 NHL draft in June.
He’s off to the Ducks’ rookie camp on Sept. 4, so possibly the pros loom, but for now Morrison’s concentrating on his fourth QMJHL season.
“I tried to come back in shape and do as best as I could on the ice and show the younger guys what you have to do to play in the league.”
