The newspaper reported that Saint John Sea Dogs overage defenseman Christian Morin had been enrolled at St. Thomas University where he will play Atlantic University Hockey in the provincial capital.
“Christian joins the team after starting the season with the Saint John Seadogs,” states the Tommies website. “A solid stay home blue liner that skates well is a perfect fit for the Tommies as they look to improve defensively. A great character player Christain was a key pick-up for the Seadogs in 09-10 as they went all the way to the league final vs the Moncton Wildcats.”
Teams are allowed to carry only three 20-year old players on their active roster. Currently, Morin joins center Michael Kirkpatrick and goaltender Karel St. Laurent as the Sea Dogs’ three overage players. But, if captain Mike Thomas returns from an Oklahoma City Barons tryout, Saint John will have four.
The Sea Dogs hockey operations department seems content with letting him go.
"He's going to be with us this weekend and he's going to play the two games,'' Sea Dogs head coach Gerard Gallant said of Morin to the Telegraph-Journal. "I think he would really like to be here (for the whole season), but he understands the situation. We're playing it day by day and then we'll see what happens.
"We've been up front and honest with him and he's been real good with us, so that's all we can ask. Time will take care of it. He's a good kid.''
Acquired from Val-d’Or at the holiday trading period last winter, Morin recorded two goals and two assists in 26 games with Saint John. Morin was a vital part of the Sea Dogs’ defense core, playing a shut down role on the backend.
He also helped turn around one of the worst penalty kills in the first half of the Quebec league last year to a respectable level in the second half.
So far this season, the Dartmouth, Nova Scotia native has no points in four games this season.
It is defiantly a tough decision for Sea Dogs management.
If Morin does pursue his scholastic endeavors this year, he will joined by a number of former QMJHL standouts. New recruits by St. Thomas this year include former Moncton Wildcat Randy Cameron, former Halifax Moosehead Yuri Cheremetiev, and Ryan Tesink’s older brother Brad.
Photo Credit: Marc Henwood/Station Nation
Finally, the dogs have come to their senses. I have nothing personally against Morin, but he seriously was a liability more times than not. He's a perfectly capable d-man when he plays within his means, and doesn't try to play better than he can, but more often than not, he would try for the fancy play and end up turning the puck over, or he would try to cream somebody with a late hit without realizing that his lack of footspeed took him extremely out of position. Best of luck with STU, Christian.
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