Bernie Morris, RW/C
(AS info/stats courtesy of 2020 bio by
@Dreakmur )
Awards and Achievements:
Stanley Cup Champion (1917)
5 x PCHA First Team All-Star (1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1922)
2 x PCHA Second Team All-Star (1921, 1923)
C/RW - 1916
C - 1917, 1919
RW - 1922
LW - 1921
Spare - 1918
Newspaper MVP vote -
3rd(1917)
Offensive Accomplishments:
PCHA Points -
1st(1917),
2nd(1916),
2nd(1918),
2nd(1919),
4th(1922),
6th(1921),
6th(1923)
PCHA Goals -
1st(1916),
2nd(1917),
2nd(1918),
2nd(1919),
4th(1923),
5th(1922),
9th(1921)
PCHA Assists -
1st(1918),
2nd(1917),
2nd(1921),
2nd(1922),
3rd(1919),
5th(1916)
WCHL Points -
7th(1924)
WCHL Goals -
6th(1924)
WCHL Assists -
9th(1924)
Consolidated Scoring:
Points -
2nd(1919),
3rd(1916),
3rd(1917),
3rd(1918),
10th(1922),
12th(1921),
16th(1923)
Goals -
1st(1916),
2nd(1919),
4th(1917),
4th(1918)
Assists -
1st(1918),
3rd(1921),
4th(1919),
5th(1922),
8th(1916),
8th(1917)
Play-off Points -
1st(1917),
2nd(1924)
Scoring Percentages:
Consolidated Points - 109(1919), 96(1918), 91(1916), 90(1917), 76(1922), 74(1921), 65
Best 6 Seasons: 536
Seventies' VsX equivalents for current forwards: | | | | |
| | | | |
player | 3y | 5y | 7y | 10y |
Dye | 103 | 97 | 89 | 66 |
Foyston | 89 | 83 | 76 | 67 |
Pitre | 97 | 87 | 78 | 70 |
Hay | 84 | 79 | 74 | 67 |
Noble | 74 | 71 | 67 | 59 |
Walker | 69 | 61 | 57 | 52 |
Dunderdale | 94 | 85 | 78 | 71 |
Morris | 94 | 89 | 82 | 67 |
Morris peaked in the mid 90's and joined Babe Dye as the only players to hold a 7 year average of >80. But unlike Dye, Morris had a much more rounded game as you will see in the sources below.
Scouting reports, quotes, praise for Morris's all-around game (in progress, much more to be added)
29 Nov, 1915 - Seattle Daily Times
-Scouting report noted the newcomer Morris as "fast, clever stickhandler, that keeps opposing defenses guessing"
05 Dec, 1915 - Seattle Daily Times
-
Very rarely do you find a detailed description of face off ability from this era. Morris is noted "as a past master in this branch of the game."
13 Feb, 1916 - Seattle Daily Times
-Morris toughness noted.
19 Feb, 1916 - Vancouver Sun
-toughness noted as well as being star of game.
28 Feb, 1916 - The Victoria Daily Times
-Morris called "speedy right wing"
-
Morris is "the real sensation of the league" and already "popular choice among sports writers for a position on the coast all start team"
15 Dec, 1916 - Seattle Daily times
-Morris noted as "Seatle's aggressive center ice forward"
-The great scoring Morris is crowding Cyclone Taylor in scoring race.
13 Jan, 1917 - Vancouver Sun
-Morris had a God mode and this vs a great Vancouver team.
07 Feb, 1917 - The Province
-toughness again displayed in star showing with bum leg.
22 Feb, 1917 - The Edmonton Bulletin
-Morris, along with Lester Patrick and Gordon Roberts are the only 3 unanimous choices for Writers Picks for PCHA postseason AS team.
Morris got 2 votes at center, 1 vote and rover and 1 at right wing.
21 Mar. 1917 - The Province
-SCF vs Montreal, toughness highlighted in a series Morris absolutely dominated. 4 game series win for Seattle. 14 goals and 2 assists.
24 Mar, 1917 - The Province
-SCF Seattle clinches the title with Morris yet again dominate.
-"Morris scored six of his team's goals and he skated and checked and shot the puck as few hockey players in the game ever have been able to do."
24 Mar, 1917 - The Gazette (Montreal paper)
SCF game, "
Foyston, Morris, Wilson and Walker checked back hard and often, all using the hook check to the great consternation of the Canadiens."
27 Mar, 1917 - Saskatoon Daily Star
-Morris star of the Cup clinching win for Seattle, noted as
"not only scored six goals but he showed all around ability tonight. He jockeyed the Canadiens defense out of line on numerous occasions."
7 Apr, 1917 - San Francisco Examiner
-Apparently "Bernie Morris, the fastest hockey star ever on blades, and practically won the a world's championship when he beat Les Canadeins single-handed at Seattle two weeks ago, has been purchased by Les Canadiens for $5000."
-Not sure what happened as Morris never played a game for Montreal but thought this was an interesting find.
31 Jan, 1918 - The Victoria Daily Times
-Morris carried off lion's share of honors as game's star.
-Noted
"was there at the checking game as well, and his work aided the home team materially."
Feb 21, 1918 - Seattle Daily Times
-Morris and Roberts played fine defensive hockey. Noted to play a very strong fore-checking game that saw Portland have trouble getting out of their own zone.
3 Mar, 1918 - Seattle Daily Times
-Morris versatility noted.
02 Jan, 1919 - Seattle Daily Times
-Jack Walker's hook check catching on with teammates. Morris and Foyston getting in good licks.
05 Jan, 1919 - Seattle Daily Times
-More talk about Walker's hook checking catching on with the rest of the team.
16 Jan, 1919 - Seattle Daily Times
-Post game notes how much attention is being paid to Morris by opposing teams, including up to "half their team". The Mets consistent speed is highlighted as well.
26 Jan. 1919 - The Vancouver Sun
-Scouting report talks about his shooting style.
23 Mar. 1919 - Seattle Daily Times
-Morris not playing due to being arrested on draft evasion charges. His absence is a huge loss for Seattle in the SCF.
-
"Bernie Morris was missed last night at center more than ever. Jack Walker held down the position very creditably and his hook check was as bothersome as usual but he ewas outclassed by Lalone where Bernie would have filled the bill."
22 Mar, 1920 - Ottawa Citizen
-Out of town paper, major hockey city (Ottawa) calls Morris one of the greatest center ice players in game.
-Noted as "short, rugged looking athlete"
-Noted as "wonderful shot and
sensational backchecker"
-Was idol of Seattle fans and regarded as "one of most dangerous forwards hockey has ever produced"
16 Dec, 1920 - The Province
-Stars to watch in Vancouver vs Mets. Mackay vs Morris.
19 Dec, 1920 - Seattle Daily Times
-Morris, along with Foyston noted as being one of the two scoring stars for the Mets.
-Morris ranks high for cleverness and higher still as a goal scorer.
-Both hound the puck as only men with hockey instinct will
23 Deb, 1920 - The Victoria Daily Times
-Neat overview of a coaching change tactically. Morris moved to C for the faceoff but resumes playing at RW once the puck is dropped, with Foyston sliding to C. Seemed to work well for Seattle.
20 Jan, 1921 - Seattle Daily Times
-Post game notes Morris
"back checked with a vim, his poke checking and hook checking stopping numerous Victoria rushes while he kept his opponents out of the play much of the time."
02 Feb, 1921 - Seattle Daily Times
-More backchecking
24 Feb, 1921 - Seattle Union Record
-Against doctors orders due to illness, Morris plays anyway.
06 Dec, 1921 - Calgary Herald
-In post game (Mets lost 2-1 to Millionaires) write up
Morris "played a hard game and back checked stiffly."
01 Feb, 1922 - The Victoria Daily Times
-"Bernie Morris has shown remarkable form in the past week, and if Bernie can continue at this pace he will make our forward line that much stronger. Morris is checking back harder than I've ever seen him"
03 Feb, 1922 - Seattle Daily Times
-Post game notes Morris'
"play on right wing was probably the best exhibition of playing that position that a Seattle right wing man has ever put up.....in Wednesday's game he had Dunderdale so completely shut out that the Victoria player hardly figured in the game."
09 Feb, 1922 - Seattle Daily Times
- Post game notes Morris playing "wonderful all-around game. He was always in the right place, back checking and covering his man on the return, like a youngster with the ambition of a race horse."
13 Feb, 1922 - The Vancouver Sun
-Out of town paper notes Morris is THE particular player Vancouver will be focused on stopping.
16 Feb, 1922 - Seattle Daily Times
-Morris post game noted as
"best right wing in hockey"
-"Doing everything that the most particular critic could ask of a man"
-"
Backbone of Seattle attack"
-
"Wonder on defense, perfecting a swinging check with a stiff grip on his stick that is a beauty."
-"Time after time he batted the puck away from the Victoria team"
16 Feb, 1922 - The Victoria Daily Times
-Morris running wild, star of the game
04 Dec, 1922 - Seattle Union Record
19 Oct, 1923 - Calgary Herald
-Morris noted as versatilte, bouncing between C and RW.
-Noted as "extremely hard backcheker"
-Most dangerous shot
-Even-tempered player who is "pretty skater but excels in stickhandling"
06 Dec, 1923 - Seattle Star
-Morris played a
"beautiful game for the invaders, backchecking like a demon."
07 Deb, 1923 - The Victoria Daily Times
-Noted star RW in 1922.
26 Deb, 1923 - Saskatoon Daily Star
-
Morris checked Newsy Lalonde down at center ice, leading to a subsequent goal.
17 Jan, 1924: Calgary Albertan
-Clever and heady game w/stiff body checking
19 Feb, 1924: The Calgary Albertan
-In post game report "Wilson,
Morris, and Anderson all skated and backchecked in the approved Bengal (playing for Calgary at the time) manner."
08 Mar, 1924 - Calgary Herald
-SCF, Morris (along with Oliver) noted as
"raising havoc with their incessant harrasing of the Cap forwards who couldn't shake the checks."
-Morris sharpshooting noted but bulk of his (and Oliver's) excellent style was "shown in backchecking and they did that to a nicety."
17 Mar, 1924 - Calgary Herald
-Morris and Cully Wilson noted to be
"doing bulk of the checking."