Justin Morrison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Justin Morrison |
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Morrison with the Chicago Wolves in 2006
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| Born | August 10, 1979 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Right Wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Lukko (SM-liiga) Frölunda HC (SEL) Modo (SEL) Rapperswil-Jona Lakers HC Dinamo Minsk HC Davos Hamburg Freezers (DEL) |
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| NHL Draft | 81st overall, 1998 Vancouver Canucks |
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| Playing career | 2001–2011 | ||
Justin Morrison, born on August 10, 1979, in Los Angeles, California, is a former American professional ice hockey player. He played as a right wing and was known for his skills on the ice. He last played for Lukko in the SM-liiga, which is Finland's top hockey league.
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Justin Morrison's Hockey Journey
Starting Hockey and Early Success
Justin Morrison began playing hockey a bit later than some, around age 11. He discovered the sport at a local rink and quickly showed great talent. He moved from playing on teams in Los Angeles to joining the Omaha Lancers in the United States Hockey League.
His skills led him to play for the USA U-17 team. This team competed in the World U-17 Hockey Challenge. Later, Morrison also played for the United States World Junior Team in the 1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He was also a regular member of the USA Hockey Inline Team, which plays roller hockey. When he was a teenager, Justin even appeared in the movie D2: The Mighty Ducks as a street hockey player.
College Hockey and NHL Draft
Morrison spent four years playing college hockey at Colorado College. He played in the WCHA. He scored over 100 points during his college career, which is a big achievement.
The Vancouver Canucks picked Justin Morrison in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 81st player chosen overall, in the 3rd round. At that time, he was one of the highest-drafted hockey players from Colorado College. He was also the first African-American hockey player from Los Angeles to be drafted into the NHL.
Playing as a Professional
After college, Justin Morrison played professionally for several years. He spent four seasons with the Vancouver Canucks and their minor league team, the Manitoba Moose. The Moose play in the AHL. He also played a season with the Chicago Wolves, who were linked to the Atlanta Thrashers at the time.
Playing Overseas
Justin Morrison also had a successful career playing hockey in Europe. His first season overseas was in Sweden's top league, the Elitserien, with Modo Hockey. He scored 28 points in 34 games, helping his team win a championship.
He also played for Frölunda HC in Sweden. Later, he joined the Hamburg Freezers in Germany's top league, the DEL. He also had short stints with HC Dinamo Minsk in the KHL and HC Davos in Switzerland.
Return to Finland and International Play
For the 2009–10 season, Morrison returned to the Finnish SM-liiga to play for Lukko. He was the top scorer for his team and one of the best scorers in the entire league. He earned 51 points in 50 regular season games and was even nominated for the league's Most Valuable Player award.
In 2009, while playing for Lukko, Justin Morrison again represented USA Hockey. He played in the Deutschland Cup, a tournament held in Munich, Germany. He was named Player of the Game against Germany after scoring two goals. He was also the top scorer for Team USA in the tournament. Team USA finished in second place.
He continued to play for Lukko in the 2010-11 season. He had another strong year, showing he was one of the league's most exciting and high-scoring players.
Life After Hockey
Justin Morrison now lives in Portland, Oregon, with his two sons.
Awards and Honors
| Award | Year | |
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| WCHA All-Tournament Team | 1999 |
