Dave Morrison (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
David Stuart Morrison is a retired professional ice hockey
player who spent parts of four seasons in the National Hockey League
with the Los Angeles Kings
and Vancouver Canucks
before embarking on a long playing career in various European leagues. He is currently the Director of Amateur Scouting for the Toronto Maple Leafs
.
Morrison is the son of longtime NHL defender Jim Morrison
, who appeared in three All-Star Games in the 1950s.
and was selected in the second round, 34th overall, in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft
by the Los Angeles Kings
. Interestingly, he was the second Pete taken by the Kings, who had also drafted Morrison's junior teammate and future Hall of Famer
Larry Murphy with their first selection.
Morrison spent two more seasons in Peterborough before turning pro, although his solid development saw him receive brief callups to the NHL in both the 1980–81 and 1981–82 seasons, appearing in a total of 7 games for the Kings. He was also selected to play for Canada in the 1982 World Junior Championships
, where he helped his country win their first-ever Gold Medal in that tournament.
In 1982–83, Morrison turned pro and split the season between the Kings and the New Haven Nighthawks
of the American Hockey League
. He registered 3 goals and 6 points in 24 games in Los Angeles, and added a respectable 23 goals in 59 games on the farm. However, after a slow start to the 1983–84 season, Morrison was surprisingly released by the Kings and was signed by the Vancouver Canucks
. Morrison spent the majority of two seasons playing in the minors in Vancouver's system, playing just 8 games for the club in the 1984–85 season without scoring a point.
Following his release by the Canucks in 1985, Morrison signed on with a German club and would spend the next 14 seasons playing in leagues in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Britain. His most successful stint was with the Kassel Huskies
of the DEL, where he served as team captain from 1994 through 1997. He also served as captain of the Manchester Storm
in England from 1997 until 1999. There is some misinformation that Dave Morrison played for the Netherlands in International hockey, but that is false.
Morrison retired as a player in 1999 to take a job as a scout with the Vancouver Canucks
. In his career he appeared in 39 NHL games, recording 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points along with 4 penalty minutes.
as an amateur scout in 2004 and served in that role for the team until 2006, when he was promoted to Director of Amateur Scouting.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who spent parts of four seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
with the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
before embarking on a long playing career in various European leagues. He is currently the Director of Amateur Scouting for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Morrison is the son of longtime NHL defender Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison (hockey)
James Stewart Hunter Morrison is a retired former professional ice hockey defenceman, coach and scout. He played 704 National Hockey League games for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins...
, who appeared in three All-Star Games in the 1950s.
Playing career
Morrison played his junior hockey for the Peterborough PetesPeterborough Petes
The Peterborough Petes are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team has played in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, since 1956, and is the oldest continuously operating team in the league.-History:...
and was selected in the second round, 34th overall, in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft
1980 NHL Entry Draft
The 1980 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum. This was the first time that an NHL arena hosted the draft. The National Hockey League teams selected 210 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1979–80 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the...
by the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Interestingly, he was the second Pete taken by the Kings, who had also drafted Morrison's junior teammate and future Hall of Famer
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
Larry Murphy with their first selection.
Morrison spent two more seasons in Peterborough before turning pro, although his solid development saw him receive brief callups to the NHL in both the 1980–81 and 1981–82 seasons, appearing in a total of 7 games for the Kings. He was also selected to play for Canada in the 1982 World Junior Championships
World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
, where he helped his country win their first-ever Gold Medal in that tournament.
In 1982–83, Morrison turned pro and split the season between the Kings and the New Haven Nighthawks
New Haven Nighthawks
The New Haven Nighthawks are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars , New York Islanders , New York Rangers , and Los Angeles Kings...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. He registered 3 goals and 6 points in 24 games in Los Angeles, and added a respectable 23 goals in 59 games on the farm. However, after a slow start to the 1983–84 season, Morrison was surprisingly released by the Kings and was signed by the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. Morrison spent the majority of two seasons playing in the minors in Vancouver's system, playing just 8 games for the club in the 1984–85 season without scoring a point.
Following his release by the Canucks in 1985, Morrison signed on with a German club and would spend the next 14 seasons playing in leagues in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Britain. His most successful stint was with the Kassel Huskies
Kassel Huskies
The Kassel Huskies were a professional ice hockey team based in Kassel, Hesse, Germany. They played the majority of their seasons in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.The club was founded as ESG Kassel in 1977 and was renamed into EC Kassel in 1987...
of the DEL, where he served as team captain from 1994 through 1997. He also served as captain of the Manchester Storm
Manchester Storm
The Manchester Storm were an ice hockey team from Manchester, England. The team formed in 1995, playing their home games at the then newly built Nynex Arena . Storm won the British Hockey League Division One in their first season, watched by an average crowd of 6,342...
in England from 1997 until 1999. There is some misinformation that Dave Morrison played for the Netherlands in International hockey, but that is false.
Morrison retired as a player in 1999 to take a job as a scout with the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. In his career he appeared in 39 NHL games, recording 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points along with 4 penalty minutes.
Scouting career
Morrison was hired by the Vancouver Canucks as an amateur scout in 1999 and served in that position until 2004. He joined the Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
as an amateur scout in 2004 and served in that role for the team until 2006, when he was promoted to Director of Amateur Scouting.