QA with Cab Morris

Cab Morris was ranked 12th amongst all North American goaltenders by Central Scouting prior to the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, proof the 6-foot-3, 180-pound netminder wasn't entirely under the radar. However, after Finnish goaltender Petteri Simila's name crossed the screens as the final pick of the draft, it was clear Morris would not be one of the 211 players selected in Montreal. Morris's chances of being drafted didn't die that day, though. The Wilmette, Illinois, native skated at the Chicago Blackhawks' development camp last summer and has gone on to be one of the top goaltenders in the USHL in 2009-10. His solid play in net earned him selection to play in the 2010 USHL All-Star in January and, as of March 15, he had a 20-10-1 record, 3 shutouts, a USHL second-best .918 save percentage, and USHL fifth-best 2.39 goals-against average. Combine the results, the size, the athleticism, and an improving technical game under Indiana Ice head coach Jeff Blashill, and Morris is a legitimate contender for selection at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey was able to interview Cab Morris in March. The young goaltender discussed his solid 2009-10 with Indiana, his decision to play a year of prep hockey with Hotchkiss, his commitment to Dartmouth, his prospects for the 2010 Draft, his minor hockey in the Chicago area, and his affinity for "Patrick" and "King Henrik."

McKeen's: You personally have been on a pretty good role of late, winning seven of your last nine starts, USHL Goalie of the Week in mid-February, and you've been amongst the league leaders statistically for the whole running. So, it appears you've adapted to the USHL from the prep school ranks pretty well. But, how do you feel the 2009-10 season has gone for Cab Morris and how's it been compared to your expectations heading into things?

Morris: It's definitely been a great season so far, and it's definitely in big part due to our coach, Jeff Blashill, and the team in front of me. But, I think I've had a real good run at it so far. I just go out there every day and give my team a chance to win.

McKeen's: Which you usually do. Along those lines, and you touched upon this, what would you say have been the keys to your personal success and then also, in addition, to the team's success.

Morris: Like I said, we have great support from the coaching staff and definitely the team in front of me. But, I think I've tried to go out there and be determined every practice, and coach Blashill holds us to a really high level of excellence in practice, and I think that's definitely been a huge factor in our success this year.

McKeen's: It reflects in the team's results so far this season, and certainly in the results he had with the team last year. You've received a little bit of individual recognition this year, including back in January when you were named to play in the USHL All-Star Game. Unfortunately, you weren't able to play in it. I mean, technically you maybe could have, but it was probably better that you didn't. If I might ask, what was the nature of that injury and when did it happen and what's helped you progress from it?

Morris: It happened right before the winter break. I fell on my groin a little bit funny. I was out the first couple weeks after the winter break, and then our other goalie (Casey DeSmith) got pretty sick, so I had to kind of step in and play while he was sick. But, it's a lot better now. My movement and a couple little things were off at the time, but I think I've really worked back, and with the help of a trainer, I'm really back at the point where I was before the injury.

McKeen's: Judging by the results, it's okay now. Regarding the All-Star Game, when did you find out you'd been named to it, who told you, and what was your reaction?

Morris: I think it was after a Saturday night game, I can't totally remember when it was announced, but my parents called me, they saw it online, and then the team told us about it the next day. So, it was definitely a great honor. But, the big thing for us is getting wins during the regular season.

McKeen's: And later in April and, hopefully, May. You've mentioned coach Blashill, and he was a goalie himself back in the day, and he's part of the Warren Strelow goaltending program that USA Hockey has going. What are some of the things you've learned from him this year and the areas you feel you've improved the most this season?

Morris: I think what he's really been good about teaching me is (pauses), he gives a lot of great feedback after every game and practice, but he's really working with me on more the technical side of the game and really being patient and using my size to the best of my ability. So, I think that's been a big help this year.

McKeen's: You're listed at 6-foot-3, and it sure looks that you're that if not even taller, but you've definitely got the size to work with. On the topic of improvement, in what areas do you feel you still need to improve the most to help take your game to the next level heading forward?

Morris: I think one of the biggest things is mostly being patient in the net and, like I said, just using my size to my advantage, and not over moving. I consider myself more of an athletic, quick goaltender. But, using my size to the best of my ability and making the most efficient movements possible.

McKeen's: We've talked about improvements, but, on the other hand, what would you say are the strengths of your game and, you've touched upon this already, the style that you play?

Morris: I think I'm definitely a really determined goaltender. I think the mental side of my game is one of my best attributes. But, I think I also square off to the shooter real well and am pretty aggressive and don't let the first shot go in most of the time.

McKeen's: Last year, you played prep school at Hotchkiss, and prior to that you played minor hockey in the Chicago area. What made you decide to go to prep school for a year and how did you feel things went out there?

Morris: Things were great. It's really good hockey out there, and great players, like Mac Bennett and Derek DeBlois on the team we're playing tonight. But, great hockey. I really went out there for a combination of the academics and the hockey. So, it was a great year for me. I had another great opportunity in Indiana, which I decided to take.

McKeen's: Last year was your senior year or junior year?

Morris: My junior year, so I'm in high school right now.

McKeen's: Okay, one of the older guys in your grade, which can be a really good thing. Coming from Chicago, how did the prep hockey compare to the midget hockey you'd played?

Morris: I'd say it's definitely a step up. You've got some really high-class players on your top two lines. I think it's definitely a really good level of hockey.

McKeen's: When you were out there, did you play on any before-and-after teams, or was it just Hotchkiss?

Morris: It was just Hotchkiss. I think that (pauses), I kind of wish I had done a before-and-after team, but it being my first year out there, I didn't know too much about it.

McKeen's: You're committed to Dartmouth, and that's in 2011, or possibly next year?

Morris: Yeah. Possibly next year, we're kind of in the process of deciding that.

McKeen's: I take it that's more their decision than your decision?

Morris: Yep, but I've been talking with the coaches quite a bit lately and just trying to figure out what the best possible option for both of us is.

McKeen's: With Dartmouth, what were the factors that made you decide to commit there?

Morris: I think it's definitely a great hockey school. There's some really good players committed there. I think in a year or two we can definitely be a national tournament contending team. On top of that, it's a phenomenal school. You get a great education. Walking out of there with a Dartmouth degree, it's an amazing opportunity.

McKeen's: Yeah, coming out with an Ivy League education isn't a bad thing to have in your pocket at all. With college, when did different programs start talking to you, and, if I might ask, who else was in the running?

Morris: I think a lot of it started coming after I had a pretty good summer at the U-17 Select Festival. It started after that a little bit. I had another offer from a Hockey East school, and I talked quite a bit to a WCHA school, and a CCHA school, and a couple other ECAC schools and another CCHA school.

McKeen's: Considering the level of education you could get at Dartmouth, I'd be remiss if I didn't ask what area of study you foresee yourself going into while you're there?

Morris: Probably somewhere around business or economics.

McKeen's: A good degree to have. There's that old joke with liberal arts degrees that they help make you philosophical enough to accept the fact you'll always be poor.

Morris: (Chuckles)

McKeen's: Heading into last year's NHL Entry Draft, Central Scouting had you 12th amongst North American goaltenders, but you didn't end up selected. What were your thoughts after last year's draft?

Morris: I obviously knew ahead of time it was going to be pretty hard to be drafted as a goalie out of prep school hockey, just because of the limited amount of games. My goal was just to work as hard as I could this year and maybe open that opportunity up for myself.

McKeen's: That goes right into my question. You're having a pretty good year this year, and you're in your second year of draft eligibility. Is there anything this year that might hold NHL teams back from drafting you?

Morris: Hopefully not. It's just (pauses), I put my best foot forward and hopefully they like my game and see my game for what it is, and hopefully it'll work out. I also won't be too disappointed if I don't. I mean, goalie is an especially tough position to move into and keep on moving up a level. So, it's definitely a long process.

McKeen's: Every draft year, there's only about 14, 15, 16 goaltenders from all of North America selected, and then a few Europeans, so it's tough. It's not like the 120-plus forwards selected and whatnot. Not to harp on this draft topic, but if I were a director of amateur scouting for an NHL team, or a regional scout advising my director, what are some reasons I should consider recommending or drafting Cab Morris in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft?

Morris: I'm a really good competitor and I go out there and give my team a chance to win the game every day, and hopefully have a lot of potential. I still have the technical side of my game to work on, but hopefully a lot of potential in the future.

McKeen's: And you'd potentially have five years to develop it before a team that drafts you has to make a decision if you play one more year in the USHL, so you've got that on your side. Potential picks for the draft oftentimes have representation. On your track, it's going to be a family advisor. Do you have a family advisor and, if so, if I might ask, whom?

Morris: It's George Bazos at Edge Sports Management.

McKeen's: How often does Bazos keep in contact with you and what's he been saying lately?

Morris: He's just been real positive over my year so far. Mostly by phone, he's based out of New York.

McKeen's: Yeah, unless the USHL starts considering expanding out East considerably… Going back to the beginning of your hockey career, when did you first start skating and playing and how did you get that start?

Morris: I've been skating, pretty much, my whole life. My dad came from a big hockey family in Detroit, so I've been skating and playing and hockey's just been a part of my life basically.

McKeen's: At what age did he put you on the ice?

Morris: I think I started skating when I was around two or three.

McKeen's: A nice, early start.

Morris: Yeah, and then I probably started playing at about six or seven.

McKeen's: That begs the question, who all in your family played hockey and at what level?

Morris: I had two uncles that played at Western Michigan and Northern Michigan, and that's about as far as my family's gone in the hockey realm.

McKeen's: That's still pretty good.

Morris: Yep.

McKeen's: For you, what organizations did you skate for at the different age groups on the way up? I know as a kid from Chicago, this could be a lot.

Morris: Yeah. I started out in mite travel hockey with the Wilmette Braves, then I went to the Chicago Young Americans, then Team Illinois, and then Chicago Mission.

McKeen's: At what levels did you play with the Young Americans, and TI, and the Mission?

Morris: I started at the Young Americans squirt major year, and then I moved down to TI for two years, and then Mission three years.

McKeen's: Okay, so for both pee years you were with TI.

Morris: Mmm, hmm.

McKeen's: And then after that point, you were with the Mission. Yeah, that's common for you guys to bounce around like that a bit. In your career, both around Chicago and in prep school, who were some of the best players that you've played with?

Morris: I think, definitely, John Moore. I played with him my midget minor year at the Mission. He's a phenomenal player, just really smart, great hockey sense, and he can skate. He's got a phenomenal shot, too.

McKeen's: How tall was John when you played with him?

Morris: He was still kind of in his maturing phase, so he wasn't necessarily one of the best defenseman on our team, but it was that summer that he just sprouted and grew into his body and turned into the phenomenal player he is now.

McKeen's: I remember when I talked with John around November of his draft year, he mentioned how he grew a ridiculous number of inches in a short period of time, and the opportunities as a 6-foot-2 defenseman are significantly more than as a 5-foot-6 guy. I guess, lastly, to end on a softball question for you, who were some of your favorite players and/or goalies growing up and why and who are some goaltenders today who you feel you're similar to or that you'd like to equate to?

Morris: I think, definitely, growing up my favorite goaltender was Patrick Roy. I just loved the way he competed, one of the best competitors to ever play the game. Then, right now, I really try to model my game after Henrik Lundqvist. I think he's a similar goalie to me, a really athletic goalie but a goalie with the technical side of the game.