It was a couple of hectic days for Ontario Hockey League star Logan Morrison.
When the Ottawa 67’s acquired Morrison in a huge trade with the Hamilton Bulldogs Saturday, the 20-year-old was at a celebration of life for his grandfather — former NHL player Barry Cullen – who died last month at the age of 87. ;
Morrison then packed up and headed to Ottawa, along with 67’s assistant coach Martin Dagenais. He arrived just before midnight and met his new teammates for the first time on Sunday.
It was the kind of on-ice debut Morrison was hoping for. He had three assists and was named first star in the 67’s 5-1 win over the Owen Sound Attack at TD Place.
“It was a crazy day (Saturday) for sure,” said Morrison. “I knew Ottawa had an open (overage) spot; it’s definitely my top choice and I couldn’t be more excited to be here.”
One of the OHL’s elite scorers — now with 58 points (20 goals and 38 assists), second behind only Sarnia’s Ty Voit — Morrison, who was Hamilton’s captain, was dealt in exchange for six draft picks.
On Sunday, lining up with Jack Beck and Cooper Foster, Morrison fit right in.
“He’s been a good player for a long time,” said 67’s coach Dave Cameron. “It’s another weapon. One of the things that it gives you — which you need if you’re going to beat the good teams — is depth. You bring in a player who’s elite, he’s going to make the players he’s with better and it means somebody’s going to move down the lineup, probably better suited to what their skill set is.”
“He’s such a special player,” said Beck. “I’ve played against him since I was 16. Even when he was 17, I thought he was a very dominant player for Hamilton. He had 100 points last year. The way he talks on the bench, he’s a leader. He leads by example and that really rubs off on our young guys. They see it and everyone buys in.
“Playing with him, it’s just easy. He holds on to the puck, he has so much poise. A lot of communication was happening between us. I think anyone could have chemistry with that guy.”
For Morrison, there’s some unfinished business on his mind. A year ago, he helped Hamilton win the OHL championship (he was named playoff MVP with 39 points in 19 games) and finished tied for first in scoring at the Memorial Cup with eight points. Morrison’s Bulldogs fell 6-3 to Saint John in the Memorial Cup championship.
“Obviously it was a great year (last season),” said Morrison. “When you get that feeling and know what it’s like to win, all you want to do is do it again. I knew Ottawa was an amazing team. Anything I can do to help them win, I’m going to do.”
Morrison got his first point as a 67 with an assist on Thomas Sirman’s first-period goal, a wrist shot from the blue line.
The 67’s, who were without Tyler Boucher and Jack Matier, took a 2-0 lead midway through the second period on a goal by Cameron Tolnai. Ottawa took a a 3-0 lead with 4:33 left in the second period, with Luca Pinelli deking Owen Sound goalie Corbin Votary and sliding the puck into the net on his backhand.
The Attack got a goal back, with Colby Barlow scoring on the power play. But near the midway point of the third period, a steal by Morrison near centre ice sent Beck in alone for the goal. With 3:04 left, on the power play, Brady Stonehouse knocked in a loose puck in the crease area. and it was 5-1 for the 67’s.
It wasn’t just about the five goals the 67’s scored Sunday, it was about the way they played – with and without the puck.
“It’s the effort away from the puck,” said Cameron. “We created some (opportunities) for us, but we eliminated them a lot because we tracked hard on the puck, we backchecked and we were able to get some sustained effort. We blocked some shots and that falls under the category of the things that don’t show up on the scoreboard, but all good teams do.”
With the OHL trade deadline set for Tuesday at noon, it’s possible, maybe likely, the 67’s, who host the Kingston Frontenacs on Wednesday, aren’t finished dealing. Rumblings Sunday also suggested that Team Canada world junior star Shane Wright could be dealt from Kingston to London.
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