The 30-year-old comes to the Stars with eight years of American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League experience, but most importantly, a year of EIHL experience, after playing his last season with Fife Flyers.
Morrison put on impressive displays during his visits to the Dundee Ice Arena, earning a 42-save shutout on his first trip and the Canadian continued showing off his ability to shut down any opposition for the rest of the season.
The 6-foot-3-inch tall goaltender was also selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by Philadelphia Flyers in round 3 (#81 overall) and the Flyers also drafted ex-Stars netminder, Nicola Riopel two rounds later.
The Edmonton, Alberta native is a multiple Player of the Week award winner, winning four in ECHL and the first one in the 2019-2020 Elite League season, while also being picked as an ECHL Player of the Month in February 2015.
Stars General Manager and Head Coach, Omar Pacha was excited to get Adam on board and with his goaltending tandem complete, he said: “For me, his game against us were probably one of the biggest reasons why we went after him.
“I thought last year he had really solid numbers for Fife and he is a goalie that when you look back at the games against Fife, especially the home ones, he always seemed to play really well at the DIA.
“From speaking to him and knowing that he likes playing in Dundee, I thought that the four games at home against us was a good sample size.
“Adam has really good size, he moves well for a big goalie and I wanted more of veteran and also a guy who has played in this league before who can use his experience to help the team to win.
“When you look back at the last season, we really struggled against him, so now we are happy to have him on our side.”
Pacha continued: “I really wanted to get a goalie with experience in our league and with Adam, I thought he was the right guy from the get-go.
“He is hungry to win and hungry to have success and he seems really excited about the opportunity of getting another chance in Scotland.
“His experience and his size are definitely an asset for us and his demeaner and how he is as a person is what we needed, a guy who is cool, calm and collected.
“I was really impressed by his character and our fans will know of him, so I think they will be really pleased.”
After agreeing to join the Stars and spend another year in Scotland, a delighted Morrison said: “I am really excited, the fans base in Dundee was exciting to play against during my time in Fife, it was a great rivalry and I really enjoyed the city.
“It just felt like it was a nice place to spend time there and on top of that, speaking with Omar, it felt like a really good opportunity for me and a good place for me to getting back to playing hockey.
“I obviously had some success playing in Dundee and really enjoyed playing in that building.
“You always felt the atmosphere between the two clubs and the fans bring that every single night and it really makes playing the game worthwhile, so I am looking forward to seeing it from the other side of the fight.
“So, it will be fun to suit up against the old team and I am sure it will be a good match up and a good way to start the season.”
After making his debut in European hockey when he joined Fife, Adam then discussed how he found making that switch and he explained: “There was an adjustment period for sure, obviously the bigger ice sheet was something I had to technically adjust to.
“However, I think being back in the driving seat and playing every single night was a good change and I had not gone through a season like that since I was a 20-year-old in juniors.
“There were seasons where I was relied upon down the stretch but never playing 60 plus games, although, it kind of game me a second life with the sport.
“I had a lot of injuries when I was playing in North America and that starts to wear on your psyche a little bit.
“So, being able to come in and play all those games and not worry about getting called up or any of the other day-to-day business that goes on in the North American game – it just allowed me to free myself up and start enjoying the sport again.”
He continued: “Although, I am used to changing locations quite frequently, so I am not worried about learning a new system in Dundee or what is expected from organisation to organisation.
“I am more just looking forward to the opportunity and obviously after not playing for a year, there will be some rust, but I have prepared my body and my mind for the start of the year, so I do not foresee it being an issue that I did not play last year.
“I certainly feel like I am in good shape and mentally I have had a long enough break that I am itching to get it back at it.”
With his many years of experience in the top leagues of North America, Morrison has also been teammates with numerous ex-Stars players and some big NHL names like; Washington Capitals goalie, Braden Holtby (Saskatoon Blades 2008-2009) and Montreal Canadiens forward, Brendan Gallagher (Vancouver Giants 2011-2012).
During his 14-year career, Adam has shared a dressing room with the following ex-Dundee players; Connor Cox and Brett Stovin (Saskatoon Blades 2010-2012), Jordan Southorn (Providence Bruins 2011/2012 & Fort Wayne Komets 2015/2016), Kevin Quick and Ryan Grimshaw (South Carolina Stingrays 2012-2014), Cody Carlson (Utah Grizzlies 2012/2013), Igor Gongalsky and Justin Maylan (South Carolina Stingrays 2013/2014), Rob Ricci, John Mitchell and Gabriel Levesque (South Carolina Stingrays 2014/2015), Brian Hart (Greenville Swamp Rabbits 2015/2016), Nikita Kashirsky (Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Fort Wayne Komets & Reading Royals 2015/2016), Joey Sides (Reading Royals 2015/2016), Anthony Mastrodicasa (Rapid City Rush 2016/2017), Dylan Quaile, James Isaacs and Bari McKenzie (Fife Flyers 2019/2020).
He has also played alongside new signing for the 2021-2022, Kyle Haas during his time in Saskatoon in the 2011-2012 season.
Adam’s career started back in 2006 with the Greater Van Canadians U18 AAA side, and after two seasons in the British Colombia U18 league, he joined the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League.
The Blades had previously drafted the netminder back in 2006 with the #49 overall selection in the WHL Bantam Draft and in his debut season, Morrison backstopped his team to nine wins in 13 matches, with one shutout.
Then, in his second year of junior, the left-handed keeper appeared in 36 matches of the 2009-2010 campaign and helped his team to 18 wins, while recording a goals against average (GAA) of 3.29 and save percentage of 89.50 per cent.
The 2010-2011 season then saw the Canadian improve to a GAA of 2.89 and a save percentage of 90.10, as he played 30 times and had two shutouts for the Blades, before being called up to the ECHL for the first time, as Wheeling Nailers needed an emergency goaltender.
In his final season of junior hockey, Adam played twice for the Blades before being traded to the Vancouver Giants, where he iced in 55 regular season games and six playoff matches.
The 192lbs shot-stopper won 37 matches that year and after an impressive season, he finally made his professional debut and it came in a lone appearance for Providence Bruins, the AHL affiliate team of Boston Bruins.
Morrison then started the 2012-2013 campaign by signing an NHL Entry-Level Contract with Boston and was then assigned to South Carolina Stingrays in the ECHL for 10 games and also Utah Grizzlies in the same league, for 14 matches, winning a combined total of seven games that year.
He then made another single appearance for Providence in the 2014-2015 season before returning to South Carolina for 23 games, where he had an outstanding record of 15 wins, a 1.88 GAA, a save percentage of 92.80 and racked up four shutouts.
In the summer of 2015. Morrison then departed from the Bruins organisation and joined the ECHL’s Quad City Mallards, where he was later traded to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
After four games with Greenville, Adam was claimed off waivers by Fort Wayne Komets and made one appearance for them before being traded to Reading Royals, where he played in 24 games for the remainder of the 2015-2016 season, while also keeping three clean sheets.
The goaltender was then traded to Rapid City Rush for the following season and whilst playing 38 times for the Rush and helping them to 16 victories, he also earned a professional try-out contract with Hershey Bears in the AHL.
The 2017-2018 campaign then saw the Alberta-born keeper sign with Wheeling again and he made 36 appearances between the pipes, leading the team to 18 wins, and also recording a save percentage of 90.50.
Then for the second straight season, the Canadian won a professional try out in the AHL but this year with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and in the following summer, he then signed an AHL contract with Hershey.
Although, he was never called upon to play with the Bears, Morrison returned to South Caroline for a fourth time and iced in 12 games for the Stingrays, posting a GAA of 2.87 and save percentage of 90.20.
Then in the 2019-2020 season, he made his European hockey debut when he signed with Fife Flyers and through 49 games, Morrison recorded a 3.13 GAA, a 91.50 save percentage and a single shutout.
Therefore, in his career so far, Morrison has featured in 439 matches, recorded 17 shutouts, and won 171 games.
Adam is our 15th signing of the summer and joins Drydn Dow, Craig Garrigan, Kris Inglis, Alexandre Ranger, Connor Sills, Craig Moore, Kyle Haas, Brett Orr, Dillon Lawrence, Gabriel Desjardins, Brython Preece, Toms Rutkis, Timi Lahtinen and Spencer Dorowicz on the roster for next season.
You can get your season tickets to watch these 15 players and the rest of the team in the 2021-2022 campaign by contacting: [email protected]
Morrison will wear the #1 Stars jersey next season.
To view Adam’s career stats on Elite Prospects click HERE
Banner Image: Derek Black.
Featured Image: Derek Black.
