Sport
Manchester Storm sign former NHL star Joe Morrow
A huge signing not only for Storm but the league in general.
Danny Jones -
26th September 2023 
Ice hockey star Manchester Storm have started the season off right not only with an opening-round victory but with a shiny new signing in former NHL pro Joe Morrow.
The hugely talented, experienced and well-travelled defenceman previously played for the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets, making 162 appearances in five years competing at the top level, and now he’s arrived at the Storm Shelter.
A former first-round NHL draftee (ranked 23rd overall back in 2011), Morrow joins the 2023/24 roster as one of the biggest signings the Elite Ice Hockey League has seen in a decade, let alone Storm themselves.
Boasting an unrivalled pedigree here in Britain and years of experience, the 30-year-old Canadian blueliner has some serious stats to his name.
He started out by spending four years in the major juniors with Portland Winter Hawks (WHL), where he amassed 151 points (33G 118A) in 227 matches. Then, in his draft year — undoubtedly his best season — Morrow managed 64 points (17G 47A) in a 62-game campaign.
After a string of solid performances in the AHL for Providence Bruins across the 2013/14 season, Morrow eventually went on to make his full NHL debut in 2014 for the Boston Bruins, the fourth-most successful team in NHL history and would maintain his status as a top-flight skater until 2019.
Late that year 2019, the proven defender departed North America to experience Europe for the first time, joining Dinamo Minsk in Belarus before moving on to Finland and the infamous Ässät franchise for the 2020-21 season.
Following two relatively quick stays in Kazakhstan and Switzerland over the past couple of years, Morrow has now arrived in Altrincham, the home of Manchester ice hockey. It’s safe to say that not only is the club buzzing about his arrival but the rest of the EIHL are too.
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Announcing the signing on Monday, 25 September, Manchester Storm revealed they had been working for months to get a deal for Morrow across the line and are obviously “delighted to able to bring in the former NHL player” and his remarkable CV.
Speaking on the acquisition, head coach Matt Ginn said: “To be able to sign a player of Joe’s calibre is huge for our group. When he became available we jumped at the opportunity to better ourselves.
His experience in the top leagues around the world, including the NHL, will be invaluable to our group. Joe will be relied upon on both sides of the puck, and I’m thrilled to bring him on board.”
With the Storm beating the Nottingham Panthers 3-2 on their opening day of this year’s campaign and Morrow still yet to be introduced to the side, the local team could be in for an electrifying season.
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Featured Image — Joe Morrow/Manchester Storm (via Instagram)
