There's no such thing as too much offensive firepower.
The Prince George Spruce Kings, one of the highest-scoring teams in the early stages of the B.C. Hockey League season, added skilled forward Shayne Morrissey to their roster on Tuesday.
Morrissey, 20, was recently released by the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League. His junior A rights were held by the Carleton Place Canadians of the Central Canada Hockey League and the Ottawa-based Canadians didn't have a spot for him on their roster. That proved beneficial to the Kings, who acquired his services in exchange for 18-year-old forward Alec Butcher and future considerations.
"I was trying to find another top-six forward and he's definitely that," said Kings general manager Mike Hawes. "To say exactly where he's going to fit in, we'll wait and see. We'll get him into the lineup and go from there but I definitely see him as a top forward and someone who's going to be able to put up some numbers for us."
Morrissey was a natural point-producer in the CCHL, where he amassed 102 goals and 130 assists in 190 career games. With the Canadians last season, he had 34 goals and 87 points in 62 games.
The five-foot-nine, 172-pound Morrissey has tremendous stick skills and Hawes is looking forward to seeing him on the Kings' power play, which has produced seven goals in 40 opportunities this season. At 17.5 per cent efficiency, the Prince George power play ranks eighth in the 16-team league.
"He's a very gifted offensive player, somebody who's going to come in and really give our power play a shot in the arm, and obviously special teams is very crucial in our league," Hawes said. "He'll do good things five-on-five and be a good leader for us as well."
Hawes said "at least half a dozen" BCHL teams were pursuing Morrissey, who is from St. John's, Nfld.
"We were the ones that were able to close the deal so we're very excited about that," Hawes said. "He's a very dynamic player."
Morrissey is expected to arrive in Prince George tonight and is scheduled to practice Thursday morning before the Kings hop on the team bus and head for the Lower Mainland, where they'll play Friday in Surrey and Saturday and Sunday in Langley.
The Kings have a 4-2-1-1 record so far this season. In their eight games, they have scored 29 goals, which has them tied with the Penticton Vees for second-most in the league. Only the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (35 goals in nine games) have scored more.
Butcher, an 18-year-old from Anchorage, was in his first season with the Spruce Kings. He had one assist in eight games. Hawes said the Canadians like what Butcher has to offer.
"And the future considerations is a big part of that deal as well," Hawes added. "Those won't be revealed until later on. You've got to give up something good to get something good, as the old saying goes, and that's the case here."
