2011 NHL TOP PROSPECT PROFILE – JOE MORROW

Calgary, AB – Leading up to the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota on June 24 and 25, WHL.ca and WHL Web TV, will highlights five WHL players who are highly ranked by NHL Central Scouting leading up to draft day.  This week’s featured WHL player is Portland Winterhawks two-way, puck-moving defenceman Joseph Morrow.

CLICK HERE to watch Morrow’s WHL Web TV Top Prospect Profile

Joseph Morrow – Portland Winterhawks
Defence

Hometown:  Sherwood Park, AB
D.O.B: December 9, 1992
Ht:  6’ 1”
Wt:  198
WHL Bantam Draft:  2007, 2nd rd, 28th overall
C.C.S Rank:  12th among domestic skaters.

Joe Morrow just completed his third season in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks, helping to lead them to the U.S. Division and Western Conference regular-season titles while also helping them to the Western Conference Championship in the 2011 WHL playoffs.

A two-way, puck-moving defenseman, Morrow’s biggest strengths are his tremendous skating, his passing skills and his shooting ability.  The Sherwood Park, AB, product boasts terrific speed and agility that help him carry the puck out of the defensive zone and join the offensive rush.  An offensively gifted rearguard, Morrow’s hockey sense and vision enable him to make good first passes and move the puck effectively in the offensive zone.  Morrow also possesses a heavy and deceptive shot that makes him a threat to score or create scoring chances for his teammates from rebounds.  Morrow’s offensive abilities make him a particularly effective anchor on the power play.  As good as he is offensively, Morrow is also a solid player in the defensive zone who uses his strength and mobility to push opposing forwards off the puck.

“Joe Morrow is a powerful kid,” said Winterhawks’ head coach and general manager Mike Johnston.  “He’s a really good skater when he brings the puck up ice, he’s got a heavy shot from the point, and he’s really strong down low in the defensive zone.

“His skating ability helps him carry the puck out of pressure situations in the defensive zone, he’s very good at joining the rush and knowing when to do it, and his shot makes him a threat on the power play,” said Johnston.

Morrow suited up for Team Cherry at the 2011 Home Hardware CHL / NHL Top Prospects game.

Did you know…Morrow’s father and older brother both played in the WHL, and were both selected in the NHL draft.

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Upcoming WHL.ca 2011 NHL Top Prospect Profiles
June 1 – Mark McNeill, Prince Albert Raiders
June 8 – Joseph Morrow, Portland Winterhawks
June 15 – Duncan Siemens, Saskatoon Blades
June 21 – Sven Bartschi, Portland Winterhawks
June 22 – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Red Deer Rebels
June 23 – WHL – NHL Draft, Special Feature
June 24 & 25 – 2011 NHL Draft