Minnesota State’s senior captain, Sam Morton from Lafayette, Colorado, has inked a one-year, two-way deal with the Calgary Flames of the NHL. The contract, effective from the 2024-25 season, follows Morton’s impressive career finale with the Mavericks last Saturday.
Morton will kick off his contract by joining the Wranglers in the AHL on an ATO for the remainder of the ongoing 2023-24 campaign.
Notably, former Maverick Walker Duehr currently plays on the Flames’ NHL roster. During his tenure in Mankato, Morton showcased stellar stats, boasting 102 games played, 44 goals, 32 assists, and a total of 76 points.
His impressive record also includes 292 shots, 17 power-play goals, and six game-winning goals.
Before joining Minnesota State in the 2020-21 season, Morton had played 32 games for Union College.
Last week, Morton received accolades as the First Team All-CCHA and CCHA Forward of the Year. His achievement marks him as the fourth Maverick to clinch the WCHA/CCHA conference player of the year title, following in the footsteps of CJ Suess (2017-18), Marc Michaelis (2019-20), and Dryden McKay (2020-21, 2021-22).
As captain, Morton has been instrumental in leading the Mavericks to success on the ice. In the CCHA, he topped the charts in various categories, including goals, shots, faceoff wins, and power-play goals. His remarkable season also saw him ranked high in goals per game, points, faceoff percentage, and plus/minus.
Despite returning from a significant injury last year, Morton kicked off the Mavericks’ CCHA schedule with an impressive five-game point streak, followed by another six-game streak in January, showcasing his resilience and skill on the ice.
During the CCHA quarterfinals, Morton showcased his prowess with two goals and an assist in a decisive two-game victory over Northern Michigan University at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center.
Throughout the winter season, he displayed consistency by recording five multi-goal games and participating in all 37 games.
In the previous season, Morton’s academic dedication earned him recognition as a Krampade All-American Scholar. His on-ice performance was equally impressive, earning him All-Tournament honors at the Frozen Four in Boston during the 2021-22 season.
Notably, he scored Minnesota State’s sole goal in the national championship game against Denver and contributed an assist in David Silye’s goal during a 5-1 win over Minnesota in the national semifinal game.
Having served as an alternate captain for two seasons, Morton assumed the role of captain this fall, leading the Mavericks with distinction. His outstanding contributions keep him in contention for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award, recognizing the top player in Division I college hockey.
“Morty is deserving of the opportunity to take the next step of his career,” said Mavericks Head Coach Luke Strand.
“We couldn’t be more excited for this moment. He is a true pro as a human and as a player. Calgary just made their organization better.”
Morton holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and is currently pursuing a master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
Beyond the rink, he actively engages in community initiatives such as the Kiwanis Holiday Lights, Elementary School Reading Program, Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund, and Anthony Ford Pond Hockey Tournament.
His commitment to both academics and community service reflects his well-rounded character and dedication beyond the game of hockey.
